E 3R1 




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AJPBPIBAIEi 




LATE DEPUTY qUARTER MASTER GENERAL 
AND MAJOR OF CAVALRY, 



TO THE 



SENATE 



| 

I 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



THE UNITED STATES 



AMERICA, 




33fctrftt of Columbia; 
1820, 



» 










1 



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'<■• 



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Ta the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United stales of America. 

The accounting officers of the Treasury having denied me 
that justice in the settlement of my accounts, a^ Deputy Quar- 
ter Master General, to which I conceive myself entitled ; and 
not having fulfilled your generous and high expectations as 
expressed in the Act of the 3d of March. 1817, in whicnthey 
were directed •• lo settle the accounts of Joseph Wheaton on the 
principles of equity and jnstke," 1 am again compelled to ap- 
peal to ray government and my country for redress. 

Permit me then to lay before your honorable body a brief 
statement of facts that occurred in the late war between 1 the 
United States and Great Britain, in which I shall endeavor 
to show with what zeal and fidelity I have served my coun- 
try, and fulfilled the duties of the trust reposed in inc, during 
that glorious contest ; and wherein I am justified in asserting 
that the accounting officers of the Treasury have not complied 
with the requisitions of the law of Congress made in my be- 
half. 

When the war was declared in June, 1812, feeling a deep 
interest in the defence and welfare of our common country, 
and believing from the known character of the British nation 
that a long and arduous conflict would ensue, I presented my- 
self to Joseph Anderson. Esq. then a Senator, now Comptrol- 
ler of the Treasury, and tendered my services in th^ contest 
about to be commenced. 

Having served nine campaigns in the revolution under ex- 
perienced officers, [si e Appendix No. 1] — commencing on the 
11th day of May. 1775, in the capture of the Margaretta, 
armed schooner, mounting four cannons and twenty swivels, 
besides several small pieces, with a crew of thirty-six sailors 
and marines, with which schooner we shortly after captured 
two other armed vessels of a larger class, viz. the Diligence 
and Tapnagoui he ; being the first naval victories of this now 
great nation, and the commencement uf your proud navy. — 
With this force we sailed to St. Johns, captured Fort Fowc 
and that city, together with all the British force and muni- 
tions of war at that place, thereby giving an impetus to the 
ardent spirit of the North ; and then, at the close of the revo- 
lutionary war, found myself disinherited by my father for 
shedding my blood in the cause of liberty and my country. — 
[Sco Appendix No. 21. 



My services were duly appreciated, and I was on the 14th 
day of August, 1812, appointed by the President a Deputy 
Quarter- Master General in the army of the United States. 

In the month of June, 1812, I wrote a letter to the Presi 
dent, and the Secretaries of War and Navy, recommending 
an attack on St. Johns and Windsor, at the head of the Bay 
of Fundy, in N. B. on which subject I conferred with the lion. 
Mr. Newton. The Secretary of War, doubting his means of 
commanding an adequate force, say 500 men, 15 gun-boats, 
with a sufficient number of seamen, in the province, now state 
of Maine, abandoned the enterprise ; and ordered me to the 
Western counties of Pennsylvania, to march three companies 
of volunteer Militia to Buffaloe and Niagara. In pursuance 
of his orders and verbal communications, I left the City of 
Washington on the l4'~hof August, 1812, and hastened on to 
Huntingdon and to Greensburgh, where I met, on the 27th 
of the same month, the capitulation of General Hull, [see Ap- 
pendix No. 3], which I instantly forwarded to the Secretary 
of War, proceeded on to Union Town <Sc Fayetteville, to pre- 
pare ami forward on those companies first intended for Buf- 
faloe, and from thence to Pittsburgh to provide for their ar- 
rival. [See Appendix No. 4, 28th and 30th August]. 

Pittsburgh and all the arljarent country, I found to be in 
the greatest state of alarm. The hon. Mr. Baldwin, (as if 
expecting the enemy at that place), was diligently engaged 
in preparing ammunition, casting balls in his own house, 
and exerting himself with many worthy citizens in prepar- 
ing for immediate defence. Under these circumstances, to 
aid, to quiet the alarm, and to prepare for any event, I re- 
turned to Greensburgh and to Union Town, and directed Cap- 
tains Markle and M'Clannin, with each a troop of horse, 
and Major Alexander, with a company of riflemen, to march 
immediately for Pittsburgh, where Captain Butler, of that 
place, with a company of infantry, was also ordered to tiie 
field, (all those companies having tendered their services to 
the government for one year). 

I then informed the Secretary of War of the measures I 
had taken, ex officio, which he approved. All these troops 
moved to the Frontiers, were at the battle of Misscssineway, 
and prevented the Indians from making their intended depre- 
dations on the frontiers of the state of Ohio. They were af- 
terwards at the scige of Fort Meigs, and rendered important 
service to their country. 

In the mean lime, 1 was directed to join Major Stoddard, 
of the artillery, an experienced revolutionary officer, (w 7 ho 
under the circumstances related, was ordered with Capiair 



Gratiot to Pittsburgh), to aid in preparing the munitions of 
war necessary to replace those taken by the enemy with Gen. 
Hull, and to prepare for a North Western Campaign. Con- 
sulting with Major Stoddard, and shewing him copies of the 
letters I had written to the Secretary of War, wherein I had 
proposed apian and arrangement of the ensuing campaign, 
viz. asking him for six thousand men, as a necessary force 
to take Maiden, to make a proper impression on the govern- 
ment of Upper Canada, ami effectually to check the power 
both of their Militia and Indian forces ; and indeed to capture 
the whole British army, drive their fleet into the lake, and 
completely subline that province — To this end, I urged the 
appointment of General Harrison to the command, as well on 
account of his great popularity, as of his military talents. — 
[See my letters to the Secretary, dated 28th and 3*0th August, 
and 3d September, Appendix No. 4]. Major Stoddard, ex- 
amining all these points with the mind and eye of a soldier, 
pronounced them correct ; and we immediately commenced 
providing the necessary munitions of war. It was deemed 
expedient to prepare live eighteen-pounders, seven twelves, 
six nines, six sixes, and four howitzers. We. sent on to this 
City for artificers, to Juniata for iron, and to the fields for 
dry girdled trees for the cheeks of our gun carriages. — We 
■ooii discovered that the Secretary had adopted the plan I had 
suggested ; he made a requisition on the states of Pennsylva- 
nia, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, for the six thousand men 
I had asked for, and appointed General Harrison to the com- 
mand — the disposition and movements of the troops, were 
made conformably to my letter of th« 3d of September; in se- 
veral columns on the flanks of the state of Ohio, and by its 
centre, and to concentrate at the ltupids of the river Miami 
and lake Erie, for an early descent on Upper Canada ; and 
with a particular view to prevent the British army and In- 
dians from following up their success by cutting up and de- 
stroying the settlements on the frontier of the state of Ohio, 
and also to prevent the Sandusky Indians (500 warriors) from 
joining the British Indians, which would have been a con- 
siderable reinforcement to the British, and a destructive ene- 
my. 

It cannot yet he forgotten that the capture of General Hull 
was attended with more disastrous consequences than the 
mere loss of the fort and the gallant soldiery under his com- 
mand — It was the means of infusing a general despondency 
throughout the country ; so much so in the immediate neigh- 
borhood, and indeed on the whole frontier, that it had almost 
occasioned hopeless despair. It was in this state of things 



4 

» 

that the energetic mind of Secretary Eustis sa7v the necessity 
of decisive measures — and the promptitude with which he act- 
ed on the occasion, entitles him to the everlasting gratitude 
of his countrymen. By calling so respectable a force to the 
field, a new tone was given to public feeling, a proud martial 
spirit was engendered, k. confidence was restored. I may say, 
it was the redeeming spirit which brought the war to such a 
glorious and happy issue. 

Ahout the latter end of September, the Pennsylvania Mili- 
tia reached Pittsburgh, were inspected, and ahout 2000 men 
put under the command of General Crooks, who marched on 
to Upper Sandusky by Lisbon, Wooster and Mansfield. Gen. 
Leftwitch, with 2000 men from Virginia, marched on by 
Sriota and Chillicothe to Sandusky, which, with General 
Winchester's command, the gallant I'etershurgh volunteers, 
and some other light companies, made up the six thousand 
men. for a tour of six and twelve months. On the 3d of Oc- 
tober* I received a private and confidential letter from the 
Secretary of War, intimating that it was deemed essential 
that I should help on the artillery, and that I " ivovli not 
withhold my service from any good work " [see extract. Ap- 
pendix No 5] — an intimation from authority so high and re- 
spectable, to aid in a service in which I knew the President 
and his cabinet were each and alike interested, was received 
and respected as a command : and though many urged me not 
to undertake so perilous a winter campaign, yet I resisted 
their entreaties — relying on my government for due consider- 
ation, and willing to hazard every thing for the glory and 
happiness of my country. Thus in replying to the Secreta- 
ry's letter, [see answers, in Appendix No. 6], pointing to the 
necessity of magazines of forage in advance, and trusting to 
the General to direct his Quarter-Master General (nearest to 
him) to make necessary arrangements, we got the cannon 
ready, and provided one hundred rounds per gun of fixed am- 
munition, with large quantities of powder in barrels, and 
lead in bars for running into ball cartridges, and loading a- 
bout seventy covered waggons, with the twenty-eight guns 
and gun carriages, with two travelling forges, and two load- 
ed ammunition waggons ; making together one hundred and 
two Tour, five and six horse teams; about five bundled and 
twenty horses, including those for my necessary assistance, 
and one to Captain Gratiot of the Engineers, who 
commanded the escort, as pioneers to cut roads, repair 
bridges, k.c. 

On the 22d November, we crossed the Allegany river at 
Pittsburgh, to follow the army to Upper Sandusky, the con- 



cpntratintr point Cor the divisions commanded by Generals 
Crook and Leftwitrh. No- very extraordinarj difficulties oc- 
curred other than drop roads, bad bridges, and the impossi- 
bility of performing anj thing like thv usual distances per 
day : so thai «ve did nut arrive at Canton until the 6th of De- 
cember, being only about seventy-five miles in fifteen days* 
and making but live miles per day on the best part of the 
whole rout. 

On the moraine: of the rth, the agent of Mr. Denny, the 
Contractor, came and informed me that he should supply me 
with provisions no further* and that he must return immedi- 
ately to Pittsburgh. At lids communication 1 was, 1 own, 
astonished — it was in fact the most appalling stroke i hud 
ever felt. I found myself, with all the munitions of war, just 
one-quarter of the distance to the Rapids of the Miami, the 
place of their destination ; General Harrison, with the exact 
number of troops which I had advised and asked lor, moving 
in columns on 'he routs 1 bad Sugg 9ted to the Secretary, and 
destined to the foot of the Rapids, so as to encompass the 
frontiers of the state of Ohio, and protect a part at least of 
Indiana ; halted in Canton — Deserted by the Contractor — 
myself a perfect stranger in the country ; my situation was 
extremely discouraging — indeed, no human being did I know 
except the troops and drivers, and they were all militia, des- 
titute of every idea of subordination and discipline — and no 
one to consult or advise with except Captain Gratiot, who 
commanded the pioneers, and who was on the first tour of du- 
ty, it is believed, ever attempted by him, but very capable, 
and with the best disposition imaginable, to be useful on eve- 
ry occasion. The fust idea presented to my mind was the 
inevitable abandonment of the whole of the munitions of war, 
the seventy loaded covered wagons, the twenty-eight pieces 
of cannon and gun carriages, provided at great expense, 
mostly dragged on from Philadelphia in wagons, and mount- 
ed at Pittsburgh — that the men attached to the horse teams 
would quit their service and return home ; the escort com- 
manded by Captain Gratiot follow alter, and the horses (520) 
all perish at their halters — the whole of the troops return to 
the interior, and to their homes, and General Proctor with 
his horde of savages pursue — In short, it seemed that I alrea- 
dy saw the smoke of the frontiers, and heard the war whoop. 

In this dilemma, believing treachery and bad faith were to 
be expected at every step, and destitute of necessary funds, I 
applied to Mi-. Sloan, now of the House of Representatives, 
then a receiver of public monies, for ad\ ice and aid ; frankly 
stated to him the perilous situation of the public stores and 



property, and the dangers whicb threatened the state — but 
he had no funds 1101* authority, and could do nothing. I then 
conferred with- a Mr. Coleman, a member of the State Legis- 
lature, and a gentleman of the greatest respectability ; liu al- 
so was unable to give me either assistance or advice, nor 
could he exercise any authority for my relief. My authority 
also was limited ; but turning to a confidential letter from the 
Secretary of War, in which he says it was deemed necessary 
that I should help on the artillery and public stores, (as before 
stated) — I therefore chose to put the most liberal construction 
upon these words ; considering that if 1 should (all a sacrifice 
to the rapacity of the accounting officers, it would be the ruin 
of but an individual — but if I did not get on the munitions of 
war under my charge, the whole frontier of the state of Ohio, 
must fall a sacrifice to Indian barbarity. Thus encompassed 
with difficulties that I thought almost impossible to surmount ; 
the labor of collecting forage for 520 horses, to be distributed 
everyday; superintending the necessary repairs of 102 wa- 
gons, and shoeing the number of horses attached to them ; re- 
pairing bridges and every rod of the road ; and also employ- 
ing additional teams to take up large quantities of stores, en- 
trenching tools, boxes of axes, iron, and hospital stores left 
by wagons which had preceded me — yet I made out to serve 
the whole convoy with daily rations until all arrived safe at 
Upper Sandusky, the 2Gtli January, 1813. Although these 
provisions were obtained under the most perplexing difficul- 
ties, in the dead of winter, when all the men were encamped 
in the. snow, and myself and all the officers were equally ex- 
posed to the inclemency of the season, nearly frozen and be- 
numbed as I often was ; and although the accounts for these 
provisions were certified substantially, in form, by Captain 
Gratiot, yet not a dollar was I allowed by the third Auditor 
or the accounting officers of the Treasury, although the ac- 
counts had been six years in their hands ; nor were they al- 
lowed until the law of the 3d March, 1819, " for the relief of 
Joseph Wheaton," was passed — such was the hardship of ha- 
ving military transactions to settle with men of little minds, 
who had too little experience in the sentiments, the toils, the 
perils, the midnight vigils, and the responsibility of an officer, 
properly to appreciate such claims. [See Appendix No. 7]. 

While we lay at Canton, and on the march, I discovered 
daily desertion from the troops in advance, insomuch that I 
became alarmed by the constant diminution of the forces — 
believing that a sufficient number for the objects before us 
would never reach the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake, and 
judging thai similar diminutions of force would take place 



wherever militia constituted the main body; and also viewing 
the depredations on the property of individuals which marked 
their march] owing to the wanl of that subordination common 
to regujar soldiers — With a knowledge of the tacts, I felt the 
imperious necessity of acquainting the President with those 
circumstances) which were calculated to destroy every hope 
of the government. Willi a view to pre\ enl a compl ite d< feal 
of the plan then commencing and in operation, on the * > J I » of 
December, 1812, I wrote direct to the President, stating the 
insubordination of the militia, a proof of their insufficiency, 
and informed him of the depredations which marked their 
march — urging him, from every consideration whii li my ex- 
perience in the revolution, and the evidence of what I daily 
was compelled to witness, to raise thirty thousand men on a 
permanent establishment! which would have been a moderate 
number to be employed <>n the various points su jected to at- 
tacks from the enemy, in the course of any thing like a pro- 
tracted war. 

1 have been informed that my letter was received, respected 
and acted upon; for about the 20tb January, 1813, twenty 
thousand men wen- ordered by the government to be raised. 
[See Bill of that date]. 

About the 15th December, having with the artificers attach- 
ed to the convoy, and some additional assistance obtained in 
Canton, repaired our damages, we were enabled to move for- 
ward, though the severity of the winter was daily increasing 
our difficulties ; and on the 24th we reached Mansfield, not 
without receiving great damages to our wagons and carriages 
generally, so much so that it necessarily employed all the ar- 
tificers which were attached to the convoy. On the 31st l)c- 
cember, 18M. we left this little village, and entered into an 
entire wilderness, a distance of about sixty miles to Upper 
Sandusky, where the two divisions commanded by Generals 
Crook and Lei'twich had arrived. Unfortunately, on that 
day there fell constantly heavy and warm rains, which took 
all the frost oit of the ground, carried off the snow, and laid 
all the prairies and low grounds under water, so that we were 
not able to make a march of even four miles. In this situa- 
tion an express n ai bed us from Genera! Harris' n, with an 
order to t aptain Gratiot to join him at Upper Sandusky, and 
to leave the whole command of (lie troops and the convoy to 
my care and direction. Though our difficulties had i>eeu 
great, and both ;<l us were called on to make every possible 
exertion; and although Captain Gratiot's services were so 
essential to the superintending every rod of the road over 
which v.e had passed, yet this order seemed to me calculated to 



8 

suspend the further movements of the convoy ; fir. his servi- 
ces had been of great importance. On the evening of this 
day, at three o'clock, the weather changed to a violent snow 
storm — still, at day-light, the whole convoj began to move ; 
but the depth of the roads in snow and mud was such, that 
the wagons were sunk to the axles, though the light six 
pounders were in front to pack the snow. Meeting with a 
morass which we could not get round, we were, co npelled either 
to drive through, or abandon the whole in the wilderness — 
hence I made the attempt ; the light guns and carriages pass- 
ed very well, but the heavy guns and loaded wagons stuck 
fast, and the next morning (3d January, 1813,) Acre all fro- 
zen fast up to the beds ol'the wagons. Thus situated, there 
was no alternative, but fust to cut out the ice. go into the wa- 
ter up to our waists, prize up each wagon, place them on skids, 
and drag (hem on to solid ground. This cost us 15 days labor 
in ire and water up to our waists, and I was obliged to set the 
example myself — i was also under the necessity of giving to 
the men the freest use of the provisions and spirits, without 
regard to quantity or allowance ; the whole party being mili- 
tia, every consideration urged l!.; ; ( both spirits and provisions 
should be used without restraint. Here it will he proper to 
observe, that I had to send to the settled parts of the country 
in my rear, a considerable distance, for forage for 500 horses, 
and for provisions for 220 men. while ! was nearly half my 
time up to my waist in water, working with the men for fif- 
teen days to save the public stores, to execute the plans I 
had suggested to the Secretary of War and President, months 
before, at the compensation of a Captain of Infantrj , and the 
only allowance. I have ever received tor that service — For, the 
accounting officers of the Treasury could see neither equity 
nor justice in any additional allowance, although the law says 
"a person from the Quarter-Master's Department maybe 
appointed as special Commissary, where, from any failure in 
the contractor, the army shall not be supplied with provisions, 
or any part thereof; such Commissary shall he entitled to the 
pay and emoluments of a Deputy Quarter-Master General. 
[See Law on the subject]. 

On the 3d of January, finding the snow falling fast and 
deepening, and knowing that I had thirty miles of low praire 
lands to pass over, which were all under water ; and knowing 
that the wagons would sink to their axle-trees if I attempted 
to drive on, I ordered an enterprising young mail, an assist- 
ant wagon master, to take ten of the light guns from off their 
carriages, and to put to them four horses each ; detailed a de- 
tachment of twenty men under the command of Lieut. Walker, 



9 

as ;i protecting party ; furnished them with four days provi- 
sions and forage ; and directed them to find the way overthe 
prairies (if possible) to Upper Sandusky, General Harrison's 
head-quarters, in order to (Kick the snow into the water, thai 
it might freeze, and make a firm road of ice to pass the guns 
and Wagons upon to the camp al Sandusky, :i distance of about 
fifty mill's. On the third day he arrived at Gen. Harrison's 
ram ji ; but to his surprise and mortification, could not obtain 
any forage for his horses, which were sent to Norton, SO 
miles, and to Franklinton, 60 miles, to be fed. As there was 
no forage in the camp, [see. Appendix No. 8] nor any provi- 
sion made to move (lie troops to the Rapi Is of i ic Miami, the 
place! had pointed out in my letters to the Secretary for the 
army to assemble at, for the purpose of marching upon Upper 
Canada when their ships would be last bound it: the ice — On 
the 5th, believing the ice to be sufficiently strong to bear the 
loaded wagons, I ordered my principal wagon master to pre- 
pare ten of them with the lightest loads, with six horses each. 
to follow the track of McHenry, and reach Sandusky if pos- 
sible. He found his road firmly frozen, and arrived sal'elj at 
Sandusky. On his return to me with his horses, (in pursu- 
ance of my instructions to that effect), he informed me thai 
there was no forage in General Harrison's camp, nor had Ins 
horses been once fed since the forage taken from camp had 
been expended. 

The principal wagon master. James Anderson, informed 
me that the only supplies of forage in General Harrison's 
i amp were obtained by sending off the hired teams attached 
to brigades and corps to Franklinton and its vicinity, (where 
the Quarter Master General had formed his magazines) ; and 
that such was the state of the roads, ami consequently the 
trilling load to each wagon, that a team of five horses nearly 
consumed the whole before they could reach the cainp — hence 
a very scanty allowance to the horses of the general and field 
officers, and others necessarily mounted. V hen the wagon 
master gave me this information, I leave it to every military 
man. every patriot, to judge of my feelings — with no power to 
control, no authority to act upon, and at a loss what course to 
pursue. The artillery had been dragged from Philadelphia 
to the black swamps of Ohio, (at hast 500 miles) at an ex- 
pense almost equal to its weighjt in silver, to be lost in a wil- 
derness, where it would be for ever useless, and from whence 
it could never be returned — in short, I hourly expected to 
hear that the army, instead of advancing into Canada, would 
return to Chillicothe and other populous towns, and art on 
tin; defensive, inasmuch as it was utterly impracticable to 



10 

proceed without forage, leaving the frontiers exposed to all 
lii cruelties of savage warfare. In this situation, I recurred 
to mj several letters addressed to the Secretary of War in 
September and October on the subject of the campaign; and 
being persuaded that the Secretary Had embraced all my 
views, from the fact that every part of the army was advanc- 
ing towards the Rapids of the river Miami, (as I had recom- 
mended), and convinced that they could not proceed without 
large supplies of forage for the transportation of the baggage 
and provisions, I determined to take all the responsibility on 
myself, and at the risk even of the displeasure of the Secreta- 
ry of War, to make sure of an adequate quantity of forage for 
the use of the army to the Rapids, as it was the only article 
which' could secure the objects then in prosecution — viz. to 
get as near Detroit as possible, and then forage on the enemy. 
To effect this purpose, I dispatched Mr. Paul Anderson (my 
forage master) an active and zealous young man, with a hun- 
dred wagon horses, furnished with forage bags of half a bush- 
el each, and directed him to engage all the forage (corn and 
oats) in the distance of 50 miles round in the rear of mv camp, 
and to ensure to the people two dollars per bushel for all the 
coin and oats which they would deliver to me at Upper San- 
dusky, where I expected to arrive, about the 20th January. — 
The forage master succeeded in sending to my camp a suffi- 
cient supply for my teams at about fifty cents per bushel, and 
a quantity went on to Sandusky to Captain Piatt, Deputy 
Quarter-Master General, at two dollars per bushel — enabling 
me to send on the public stores as fast as the wagons were got 
out of the morass, and I reached Sandusky with the whole 
about the 26th of January. 

The battle of the river Raisin took place ; where General 
Winchester had, by a hasty and ill-advised movement, (omit- 
ting to observe the plan of the campaign, or the arrangements 
made to advance to the frontier on the different routes, and 
concentrate at the foot of the Rapids, and too desirous to grasp 
to himself the laurel intended to be shared by the whole army), 
advanced upon the River Raisin without duly reconnoitering 
the enemy, was surprised, and consequently lost the left wing 
of the army — a disaster so serious, a check so severe, that it 
took up the whole of the following summer to replace the lost 
troops, and to perform that which might have been effected 
in ail February and March, had not this disaster taken place. 
General Harrison collected the scattered troops, rallied the 
fugitives who escaped the massacre, and fell back to Carrion 
River, where he stood with the most heroic magnanimity in 
the face of Proctor and his army — with hordes of savages 



M 

surrounding him, already glutted with Ihe l»e«t blood of Ken- 
tucky, cms) yet howling for more; and although his constitu- 
tion was much impaired) yet be exposed himself to .the incle- 
mency of the season, and shared equally in the, sufferings of 
the common soldier, with an alaorit) which will never be for- 
gotten by those who witnessed w ith him the hardships of that 
memorable winter campaign. 

In the mean time, I continued to receive the corn and oats 
which I had engaged of the inhabitants in my rear, (leaving 
that purchased and stored by the Quarter-Master Qenecal at 
Chillieothe and Franklinton, as the expense of the transporta- 
tion of it to Upper Sandusky woidd not justify its removal), 
until I had taken in about 34,000 bushels, [see Appendix No. 
10]. I built also a strong stockade work (covering aboul l 
1-2 acres of ground) with block-houses, and store-houses for 
all the corn and oats ; and when it was believed I had receiv- 
ed as much as was necessary for the purposes of the station at 
Fort Meigs and Fort at Upper Sandusky, and the whole cam- 
paign, I went on to General Harrison with thirteen wagons 
loaded with forage, (corn and oats), and found the army on the 
very spot of ground I had pointed out to Secretary Eustis ; 
but the time of service of the Ohio and Kentucky troops being 
expired, the army was too much reduced in number to advance 
upon Maiden until reinforced ; and when I had reported to 
General Harrison the quantity of forage I had laid up in se- 
cure store-houses in his rear at Sandusky, he ordered the 
ground to he laid out. and the fortification of Fort Meigs to he 
built on the bank of the Rapids. Five brigades of pack hor- 
ses were put in motion, 350 of which were employed to bring 
in provisions — these horses would take a load of fiour each, 
and when arrived at Sandusky would refresh one, two or three 
days, taking an additional allowance of two or tour quarts of 
corn to each horse; b) which means I was enabled to teed the 
public teams ; to haul the timber for a stockade work of seven 
ami a half acres of ground, sufficient to garrison 6000 : 

build eight block-houses, with reservoirs for salted provisions 
in case of a protracted seige, and complete the work. 

Notwithstanding repeated orders were sent by expresses to 
the Quarter-Master at Upper Sandusky to send on the eigh- 
teen-pound shot for the guns already in position on the plat- 
forms, yet not a shot bad reached the fort; while, parties of 
Indians and British officers were daily reconnoitering the 
works, and killing our men as they went out of the works for 
water and other necessaries, even under the picquets. In this 
situation, with all the roads leading to the works ambuscaded 
by Indian marksmen, on the 8th of April, taking advantage 



L2 

of a thick hazy morning, I left the fort, having with me four 
riflemen* and shaping my course hy a pocket-compass. I left 
the ambuscaded roads to my right ami left, and readied Car, 
n river and a small block-house at twenty miles distant, 
wading nearly the whole distance half leg deep in water; for 
the. snow having jiftit melted away, and the distant country be- 
ing an inclined plain, our road was nearly all under water, 
and the large prairies often knee deep — In -this manner, we 
proceeded oil to Fori Findlay and to Upper Sandusky. At 
Fort Findlay I ordered a boa! which the boat builder. Sprag je, 
had nearly got ready, to be loaded with thirty barrels of whis- 
key, with flour.'and some bar iron to hang the gates with at 
Fort Meigs, At Upper Sandusky I sent olf a brigade of pack 
horses loaded with eighteen-pound shot, under an escort uf 
a comuany of riflemen, all of which arrh ed safe at Fort Meigs. 
M etingwith Colonel Ball and bis command of 200 dragoons, 
destined to Fort Meigs, he intreated me not to return until 
(if possible) I should send him a supply of forage for his horses. 
As there were no pack horses nor means of conveyance found 
at Upper Sandusky, I was obliged to proceed 60 miles further 
on to Franklinton, w here 1 found 200 pack horses and having 
loaded them with 2 1-2 bushels of coro each, 1. ordered them 
to Fort Meigs. At Franklinton I met Governor Meigs, who 
arrived there the day alter my reaching that place— he had 
one battalion of five companies of volunteers following him, 
which overtook him the next day, when they were supplied 
with amis and ammunition for the. expedition to Fort Meigs. 
This battalion was the advance corps to 4000 men who were 
ordered out to rendezvous on the plains of Sandusky. 

His Excellency Governor Meigs issued an order to these 
troops For inspection and review, and requested me to take 
command of them for the day, and to act with his command as 
his Quarter-Master General, which service I cheerfully ac- 
cepted until we should reach General Harrison's head quar- 
ters at Fort Meigs, or elsewhere. I accordingly took com- 
mand of the battalion, and marched them to the plains of 
Franklinton. where the men. their arms, accoutrements, ^c. 
were inspected by the Governor, and they passed in review. 
His Excellency then requested me to put them through such 
maneiivres as would be most useful to them on the service they 
were entering, and to give them the best idea of the necessity 
and the utility of a conjoint support. When nearly the whole 
dav had been spent on this service, and for the above particu- 
lar object, the Governor directed me to inarch them to their 
encampment and dismiss them, with his thanks for their steadj 
behaviour wider arms, and their good conduct in the town. 



15 

both as citizens and soldiers. When I had marched the bal- 
talion to their parade ground, drawn them to a hollow square, 
and was about to communicate the sense of the Governor to 
them, 1 was interrupted simultaneously by every officer in the 
corps in the most impressive manner, intreating that I would 
continue to command the corps until the expedition should be 
ended — the application was as unexpected as sudden, (for I 
had never seen an individual of the battalion until that day,) 
and so flattering to my zeal for the campaign I was engaged 
in. that I promptly assured every officer and man of the corps, 
that as [ was acting as Quarter-Master General to Governor 
Meigs's command, and they were his advance guard, where 
their opportunities wonld he great to distinguish themselves, 
that I would be with them every day on the inarch, encamp 
■with them by night, and in case they were so fortunate as to 
meet the enemy, that I would be with them at the head of the 
column. On the next morning, the transportation forthc bag- 
gage being ready, we took up the line of march for the town 
of Delaware, 20 miles distant, where we encamped for the 
night. 

Early the next morning, the battalion commenced their 
march for Norton, the last Iron tier town ; but in consequence 
of over-fatigue and excessive anxiety to return to the relief or 
support of General Harrison, (knowing that Fort Meigs must 
be besieged and surrounded) I found that, when seated by the 
Governor in his quarters, being 1 called there by his aid-de-camp 
Colonel Brush to refresh with a dish of warm coffee. I became 
speechless and incapable of exertion. A few moments repose, 
and the roll of the drum as the troops marched oiF, reanimated 
my nervous system — I mounted my horse and accompanied 
the corps, which reached Norton that night. A heavy rain 
confined us there two days; and finding I was worn down, 1 
confined myself to my quarters ; and with some relief from 
the Doctor, although Governor Meigs advised me to halt un- 
til further recruited. I mounted my horse, pursued and over- 
took the battalion, after a march of thirty miles to Upper San- 
dusky, on the next day. About the first of May, the troops 
which Governor Meigs had ordered to rendezvous at Sandus- 
ky, began to make their appearance in squads, parties, de- 
tachments and companies. His Excellency, Colonel Brush 
and myself, immediately commenced the work of organizing 
the officers and men as they arrived, into companies, regi- 
ments and brigades, with flank companies of volunteers of 
horse and foot, and the line of march and order of battle 
was formed. Having prepared two six pounders on carriages 
with ammunition, the Governor ordered me with the advance 



14 

battalion to move oflf to Tomacty river, fifteen miles in ad- 
vance of the army, and throw a bridge over that river, which 
was effected by the time the Governor arrived with the main 
body. At the moment his Excellency was in readiness to 
march, an express (who, taking the advantage of the night, 
had stolen from Fort Meigs, crawled under the bank of the 
river, and got round the flank of the enemy's camp), arrived 
from General Harrison, informing the Governor that General 
Proctor, by a (lag officer, bad demanded the surrender of 
1' rt Meigs ; and it was the opinion of General Harrison that 
Proctor was preparing, and intended to storm his works in 
about three nights afterwards. Governor Meigs had made his 
arrangements to attack the enemy, intending to commence 
his attack on the centre of the Indian camp or line — to pro- 
duce coil fusion by a rear attack, and with his main body to 
force them into the river, or to destroy the whole ; but up- 
on seeing the letter from General Harrison, containing Gen. 
Proctor's demand of surrender, 1 felt confident, and gave it 
as my decided opinion to Governor Meigs, that Proctor's de- 
mand was a deception, a threat, or feint to amuse General 
Harrison, that he might runaway without having his rear 
harrassed by a sortie from the Fort ; for, by his spies, he had 
daily intelligence of the respectability of Governor Meigs's 
forces, botli as to their numbers and their celerity of move- 
ment; and I urged the importance of making every possible 
exertion to advance rapidly forward, lest we should not even 
get a sight of the enemy. The Indians were constantly ho- 
vering round us ; and when we arrived at Genera, within 
striking distance of the Indian camp near Fort Meigs, they 
became so daring, that while I was supplying my battalion 
with fresh ammunition, and provisions to cook for the next 
day, in hope of other employ, they stole my two horses, and 
many others from the Governor's camp, [see certificate of 
Governor Meigs] — Those belonging to his camp, I understand, 
have been allowed and paid for by the third Auditor, but he 
has decided that it was neither equitable nor just that I should 
be J aid for mine — a distinction in the merit, the equity or jus- 
tice of the cases, 1 have not been abieto discover. 

On this days march, 7th May, we met Gen. Harrison near 
Lower Sandusky, Gen. Proctor having ranaway on the very 
night I predicted, leaving all his heavy cannon behind him. 
The horse commanded by Col. Ball having been confined in 
the Fort on a very short allowance, it was necessary for them 
to get into settlements to forage as soon as possible. 

After this gallant defence made by General Harrison, he 
conferred \\ ith Governor Meigs on the then state of things, and 



15 

it was deemed advisable to relieve tlie militia as fast as possi- 
ble after a display of zeal so manifest in all llie people of tlic 
country around, and those particularly who bad so cheerfully 
volunteered their service, on the occasion. The troops were 
accordingly all discharged with the thanks of the Governor* 
excepting two battallions and a troop of horse with which 
the Governor marched to Cleveland, for the better security of 
that town, then a place of deposit for munitions of war. due. 
battallion with one of the six pounders were put into the Fort 

at Lower Sandusky, by the service of which piece of cam 

Major Croghan was enabled to defend that post with so much 
advantage to his country, and such distinguished honor to 
himself. 

When the discharge of the militia and volunteers took place, 
and my services as a volunteer bad ended with them, General 
Harrison ordered me to Franklington, thence to Chillicotbe, 
where I established an office for the duties of the Quarter Mas- 
ter General's Department, to receive and forward all kinds 
of public stores as they arrived from Pittsburg, for the army, 
which then lay recruiting in the vicinity of Lower Sandusky, 
with a view to prosecute the campaign, and carry the war 
into Upper Canada, according to the original plan suggested 
by me. 

I was also engaged in forwarding on part of the 2000 men 
ordered to he raised by the act of the 20th January, 1813, 
then enlisting on a more permanent establishment than Gen. 
Clay's brigade, and Col. Dudley's regiment ; which latter, 
suffered so much by their indiscreet valor at the storming of 
the British works on the left bank of the Miami, during the 
seige of Fort Meigs. 

At Chillicotbe 1 found great abuses bad been practised by the 
inattention or incapacity of the staff officers who had been 
stationed at that post. Believing that the British government 
would persevere in the war as in the revolution, and witness- 
ing the immense expense the nation was at, especially where 
militia forces were its principal dependence, the strictest econ- 
omy (having a most sacred regard to the justice of every indi- 
vidual employed) was necessary in every act of mine; here 
finding that 40 dollars had been paid for every waggon load 
of public stores from the mouth of Scioti to Chillicotbe, and 
the same from Chillicotbe to Franklinton, the whole distance 
being eighty miles, making one dollar per mile; I entered in- 
to immediate engagements with wagon owners to haul the 
public stores to those places for precisely one half the expense, 
making a saving to the government of 40 dollars for every 
wagon load of goods drawn eighty miles, and in proportion. 



10 

for any other distance, aiyj as the quantum of public stores 
was great, the savins;- was considerable ; and felt, both in the 
expenditure of the public funds and in obtaining those funds by 
(he Government. It also enabled the merchants of the country 
to carry on their mercantile transactions, and prevented dilli- 
culties which were experienced from the profuse expenditure 
of the public funds by public officers (see appendix No. 12). 
Here too, I found the customary price paid by the public olh- 
cers, had been three dollars per sett of shoes to each wagon 
horse, and two dollars for each dragoon or saddle horse, both 
of which prices 1 reduced, the shoeing for a wagon horse to 
one dollar and forty cents, and of a saddle horse to one dollar. 
At this expense only, all the horses were shod which came to 
or passed through Chillicothe, and an addition of more than 
one thousand setts of shoes with nails to each were forwarded 
to Gen. Harrison for the horses attached to the army under 
his command at Detroit. 

In the month of July the British army menaced a second time 
the garrison of Fort Meigs, and the extensive frontier of the 
state of Ohio, threatening the whole of that country with all 
the horrors of savage and British warfare. Governor Meigs 
was again called upon by General Harrison. My expresses 
were sent to every part of the state (having a number in com- 
mand) to further the views of the Governor, and to give to Gen- 
eral Harrison the earliest relief and support. Governor Meigs 
ordered out four thousand men from his patriotic state, to ren- 
dezvous at Upper Sandusky: the order was given, and the 
troops assembled on the ground, prepared to meet the enemy. 
The Governor took command of the advanced corps in per- 
son, requesting me to give to the troops every facility my De- 
partment could furnish to expedite their movements My vigi- 
lance and attention to every wish, and the advice of the Go- 
vernor, in furnishing supplies, and the protection my own ex- 
ertions gave to the country, can be attested by his excellency 
liimseif, anil the Hon. Col. Brush of the House of Representa- 
tives, then aid-de-camp to the Governor, to whom I beg leave 
to refer ; and 1 doubt not but Gov. Meigs, General Harrison, 
and every military man of consideration who reads these 
pages, will duly appreciate my exertions and the use of limited 
power, when they scat: the circumstances attending my situa- 
tion in the wilderness, with the whole of the cannon and other 
munitions of war destined for the use of the army and the 
protection of the country, and also the measures I bad adopted 
unknown to the general in furnishing an ample magazine of 
forage stored in a fortified place, enabling the army to be sup- 
ported on the \cvy ground which General Proctor had intend- 



17 

rd to take possession of, and marked out l>y the British go- 
vernment as their sine qua non to any negotiation or treaty or 
ponce — which) munitions of war and forage not only enabled 
us to defend the whole frontier of Ohio, hut supported all the 
militia brought out by Governor Meigs, supplied the means of 
supporting the army in its progress to Upper Canada, &gave 
victory to our arms on the Thames, in pursuance of my sug- 
gestions made to the secretary of war in September* 1812. 

The army was res< ued too from the situation as pointed out 
in the house of Representatives by that intelligent gentleman, 
the Hon. Mr. Pickering, who was deservedly considered as 
Genera] Washington's ablest quarter master general in the re- 
volution — lie stated to Congress that the manner in which the 
quarter master general made his arrangements lor the supply 
of forage, had cost the nation about forty dollars per bushel, 
that the supplies were obtained in quantities so small as to he 
insufficient to support the horse attached to the transportation 
service ; and urging the impossibility of the army's advancing 
thus embarrassed, advised that it sould be withdrawn. 

While at Chillicothe, finding that quantities of public arms 
had been scattered about the country by troops returning from 
various tours of duty, and in a perishable state, I had them 
collected, and established a small armoury, at alight expense, 
preserved many hundreds from ruin, and restored them to use. 
When the battle of Lake Erie secured to us the British Beet, 
and Gen. Harrison bad marched into Upper Canada, captured 
the British army, and the object which 1 originally suggested 
had been completely obtained, I applied to the secretary of 
war to be ordered to some point where 1 might be further and 
still as usefully employed, and was directed to return to the city 
of Washington. As soon as arrived I applied to the account- 
ing oiliccrs for a settlement of all my public transactions, but 
was informed that my accounts could not be settled until all 
the accounts of the North Western Army were brought in. In 
vain I urged that my transactions had no connection with any 
officer of that army, that my responsibility had been consider- 
able, and the great importance to me to have my accounts 
settled — still it availed nothing, my accounts were obliged to 
remain in an unsettled state until it should be their pleasure 
to commence the examination of them. 

The 38th regiment being emcamped in this city, General 
Bloomfield commanding, I received his orders to transport a 
hattalHon commanded by Major Fraily to Norfolk, and pro 
vide for them on Craney Island. I reached Richmond in Vir- 
ginia on the 19th Nov. 1813. and applied for water transpor- 
tation. It had been the practice to demand two dollar*) fur tk« 

-S 



18 

passage of every officer and soldier, but economy with - strict 
justice to every individual was made the rule of my conduct; 
and knowing that the saving of cents by battalions was the 
saving of dollars by brigades, I contracted to send all the 
troops to Norfolk at the rate of Si. 25 per man which saved 
many thousand dollars in the transportation of troops to and 
from Norfolk. When I reached Norfolk, and disembarked 
the troops on Craney Island, I was astonished at the incom- 
petency of the works for the defence of the harbor of Norfolk, 
and that it had not been carried and taken when attacked by 
the British — after taking a view of tliis fortress, 1 was induced 
to examine all the works which were then relied upon for 
the protection of that important mercantile city, and in com- 
pany with Capt. Tarbell of the navy examined every post 
round that harbor, and on the rear of the town. Being per- 
suaded that it could not be defended against a force of 750 men 
with the troops then employed, I addressed a letter to the se- 
cretary of state, he having seen considerable service in the 
revolution, and knowing he would view every thing with a mi- 
litary eye and with great correctness. I suggested to him the 
propriety and utility of ordering on some, experienced officer 
to examine Norfolk as a military position ; that it would be of 
immense advantage to the enemy as a depot ; and that it would 
also give them the navy yard and Constitution frigate, and all 
the gun boats, and the command of the Chesapeake Bay as an 
exchange for Canada when a peace should take place. These 
views I submitted also to the Adjutant General of the state of 
Virginia, William W. Hening, a warm patriot and a man of 
sense. I had the pleasure to find that be accorded with me. in 
every suggestion I made on the subject, and he wrote to the. 
secretary of state accordingly. General Porter was ordered 
to Norfolk: betook the same view of the situation of the place 
that I bad. Requisitions were made on the state of Virginia 
for a respectable force ; Governor Barbour complied promptly 
with every application of the President ; Norfolk was garri- 
soned with near ten thousand men ; the city was strongly and 
well fortified, and remained unmolested until the peace. 

About the 15th Dec. 1813, I opened an office in Richmond, 
for the duties of the Quarter Master General's Department, 
having under my charge the whole of the 5th military district, 
(except Norfolk and it's vicinity which was conducted by Col. 
S wan n,) and received the public stores and munitions of war 
necessary for that post, the supplies at Norfolk and such as 
were necessary at North Carolina and Charleston, and for- 
warded the same to those posts as they were called for. On 
the 21st December 1 received an order from his excellency 



19 

Governor Barbour through his Adjutant General for marching 
a body of troops from some distant counties to Richmond and 
Norfolk (sec appendix (No. 13) which order was cheerfully 
complied with as well as many others. Oil the I7t!i February, 
is 14, I received an order from the Governor and Council of 
A .t. to march a body of troops to Norfolk (see appendix No. 
14) these orders, and those which followed, called for more 
than twenty thousand men in the course of the war, all of which, 
were most cheerfully attended to. But upon discovering the 
manner in which the militia troops were marched and supplied, 
1 found that, left to their own regulations, their expense were 
enormous, and the manner of supplying them gave great dis- 
satisfaction to the inhabitants. Turning my attention to an 
order of the secretary of war given to me on my departure from 
the City of Washington) as a rule of conduct by which to 
march all militia troops, and which was of course observed; and 
finding it to hi; more liberal and expensive than I presumed to 
think necessary, I determined to lessen that expense, and 
take upon myself new responsibilities, particularly as the ex- 
penses of the war had transcended all calculation, in so much 
that the government had been considerably embarrassed for the 
want of funds. Instead of allowing 81.85 to each captain of in- 
fantry per day, and §1.45 to each lieutenant. I allowed them 
nothing, and instead of 48 cents per day to each non-commis- 
sioned officer and private I allowed them 25 cents per day only, 
or one ration of provision which cost 1 5 cents, and one wagon 
and live horses to each company of 100 men, being an expense 
of 5 cents; and 5 cts for contingents, fuel, &c. — by which means 
it made a difference to the government in the expense of march- 
ing twenty thousand men from the different counties of the 
great sate of Virginia, of more than one bundled thousand 
dollars, (see appendix No. 15.) I thus acted completely under 
the law which authorised the President to appoint special com- 
missaries in case of failure in contractors ; (see laws, U. S.) 
(from the 21st December, 1813, until my accounts were set- 
tled, 19th November, 181T,) « and who shall be entitled to the 
pay and emoluments of a Deputy Quarter Master General." 
I found at Richmond a number of men who bad served their 
tour of six months duty, discharged, and on their way from 
Norfolk, sick on the wharves, in the streets, or in negro cabins, 
and no friendly hand to aid them, except that which humanity 
alone extended ; there was no hospital or medical department, 
nor even a United States physician at Richmond. As I felt 
myself called upon in the confidential letter of the secretary of 
war, " not to withhold myself from amj good work" — I imme- 
diately engaged a suitable building lor an hospital, appointed 



ex-officio Doctor Rice, (a gentleman highly calculated for the 
purpose) surgeon's mate, paying him the compensation allow- 
ed to gentlemen of that grade in the army, and appointed 
nurses, &c. for this establishment ; tints acting under I he law 
allowing physician, superintendant, and manager of hospi- 
tals, (see laws U. S.) 

I j a \ ine; discovered that considerable quantities of small arms 
were housed in several places at short distances from Rich- 
mond in a perishable state, which made it necessary, not only 
to raise a corps of artificers and appoint a superintendant, but 
a laboratory, for the purpose of making up the necessary quan- 
tity of ammunition lor the militia and regular troops; and 
hence, doing all the duties of commissary of ordnance, (see 
laws, U. S.) and in that capacity it vias necessary to act until 
the close of the war. 

in the month of July, Governor Harbour discovered the 
enemy bovering about the coast, and apprehending their de- 
signs, ordered General Madison with a brigade of choice mili- 
tia troops, to take the field and rendezvous near Fredericks- 
burg, as a party of observation, and to keep himself within 
supporting distance of either Washington or Richmond. — He 
obeyed the order, and stationed his forces accordingly. His 
excellencj also ordered nut Gen. Porterfield with a Brigade 
consisting of two thousand men, horse artillery and infantry, 
and stationed them near Richmond; and in September ordered 
ou! generals Leptwiteh, BiTckcnridge. Cox and Chamberlain, 
witli two thousand men each; and he had also for a time 
near three thousand cavalry in front, and on the flanks of 
Richmond with numerous parti/an corps in advance upon al- 
most every navigable inlet from the Chesapeake Bay. liable, 
to British incursions ; thus effectually protecting his state from 
insult or serious depredation. 

His excellency judging it would be necessary to maintain 
a highly respectable force in Virginia, and be prepared to aid 
the general government in case of emergency offered the brig- 
ade commanded by General Porterfield to the secretary of war, 
which was accepted, consequently I was called upon to make 
every provision for that brigade, it being then supported and 
supplied at the expense of the United states ; the General is- 
sued his orders for thirty five covered waggons as necessary 
to the movement of his brigade to any point the enemy might 
appear at. As I had not been supplied with funds, and had 
but one single waggon attached to the Quarter Master Gen- 
erals Department, I was embarrassed of course, and reported 
to the General my incapacity to execute the order, when he 
requested me to hire the waggons and teams. On enquiry, I 



21 

{bund that no waggon could be hired for loss than five dollars 
per day, and as the brigade was to be in service si\ months, 
each waggon and team must cost the United Slates 905 dollars. 
Seeing that thisenormousexpen.se must he incurred if I hired 
the waggons and teams, together with all the incidental ex- 
penses of forage, repairs, &c. with payments for all horses 
which might die in service, I determined to purchase the whole 
(if possible.) 1 undertook the task, and, upon my own respon- 
sibility, purchased thirty five waggons and teams at an average 
expense of about 8.555 each. As soon as General Portertield's 
brigade was well supplied with baggage waggons, the Brig- 
ades of generals Leptwitch and Breckenridge were both turn- 
ed over to the United States, aud both generals called for a 
like number of waggons and teams. I pursued the same course, 
in furnishing general Leptwitch with 35 waggons, and general 
Breckenridge with 16, eing 51 to the two brigades,' and the 
state Quarter Master General loaned to General Breckenridge 
nineteen to complete the number required by him. 

Soon after Col. Hamilton arrived at Richmond with his rifle 
regiment from North Carolina where it had been raised, he 
had with him sixteen waggons hired at six dollars per flay 
each. As soon as he arrived at his station and quarters, I 
directed that all his waggons should be sent to me to be dis- 
charged, that the country might be relieved from the enormous 
expense of sixteen waggons at six dollars per day each, stand- 
ing at his quarters with nothing to do, but to consume the 
forage, and to haul wood for the use of the troops, promising 
at the same time, to supply him with all necessary public teams, 
which 1 did ; when he marched oil* amounting to sixteen, for his 
baggage and clothing. I in the same manner furnished Major 
M'Clenin with the number (live) that he required for his bat- 
tallion of regular troops, thus making a total of 10" waggons 
that I had furnished, at an average ofgS55 each, and a saving 
difference to the government of 858850 ; and this I presume to 
state, that, if at the close of the war in 1815, all those waggons 
and teams had been sold which went off with the several corps 
mentioned at the ratio which I sold those which were left with 
me at the close of the war, the whole transportation would 
have been effected at the expense only of the forage of the 
horses, and necessary repairs, and the nett sum of 806,835 
would have been returned, together with the advantage of hav- 
ing a full number of waggons for the like number of troops had 
the war continued, and a clear saving of 58,850 for every six 
months service. 

Finding so respectable a force to be stationed at and near 
Richmond, and knowing to what incidents a camp is liable. 



22 

from the experience of nine years former war, and believing 
it to be the first duty of 1 be state to regard the soldier, I had 
recurrence to my original and confidential orders, •« tiidt I 

would not withhold, mu services from any good work/' I imme- 
diately secured a large and convenient building* for an hospi- 
tal, appointed Mr. Jones Asst. surgeon, and Mr. John Ward 
Asst. Physician, and engaged the necessary ward masters, 
cooks and attendants ex officio. For not a single officer of ei- 
ther department had been ordered to Richmond ; and were 
these important officers not supplied in some way, sickness 
disease and death would soon make dreadful havock in every 
camp. Thus i acted in the capacity of physician superinterj- 
dant and manager of hospitals; for, every thing necessary for 
more than a thousand sick soldiers was furnished by me, and 
the sick attended to : and I ever felt a lively pleasure, that all 
these duties were performed under the discerning eye of ids 
excellency Governor Barbour, and applied to his immediate 
fellow citizens ; and I trust I may rest on his honorable mind 
duly to appreciate the value of those services. 

W lien his excellency had completed all his precautionary 
arrangements, and secured the safety of the capital of his 
state, he waited for the approach of the enemy, trusting that 
the sagacity of the secretary of war (General Armstrong) 
would not permit Washington to be attacked with impunity. 
The enemy landed at Benedict, made their way to Bladens- 
burg. where a manly resistance was made by one small corps 
of artillery, commanded by that intrepid revolutionary soldier 
Com. Barney, who was of cousre beaten ; the infantry and 
militia made a reluctant retreat, in obedience to positive orders, 
and the nation's proud edilices blazed under the torch of an 
exulting foe. 

The British army made a hasty retreat to their shipping, 
and a second demonstration of their folly and weakness was 
made at Baltimore. By this act of madness they have to la- 
ment the loss of an able general and humane soldier. 

Immediately after the affair of Bladensburg, General Arm- 
strong retired from the War Department, and doubly fortu- 
nate for the nation was it that he was succeeded by that illus- 
trious statesman James Monroe, who immediately in assuming 
the charge of his office, his great mind embraced the duties of 
every branch of that department, throughout this great nation ; 
he penetrated into the designs of the enemy, and discovered 

*It is due to Leroy Anderson, Esq. of Richmond, to mention that he 
jave up his house, where he resided, in order that the sick whose pa- 
triotism had brought them to the field should be accommodated — a dis- 
interested act of such a nature is above all comment. 



x>3 

the plans of their future operations. The soft and delicious 
climate of Orleans, (lie wealth and hospitality of a generous 
and rich people were sufficient temptations to satisfy their cu- 
pidity — and anxious to revel on the spoil in expectation they 
spread their sails to the wind, expecting a reinforcement froia 
the West Indies, to aid in the work of devastation, not be- 
lieving their object could be understood. 

It is a matter of astonishment and wonder, that keen and 
discerning as the mind of the secretary w as, he should have be- 
come so confident of their intended object ; yet so it was, and 
the facts are these, he wrote to every officer of the ordinance 
department, and others in possession of military stores, to 
hasten them on to Orleans ; he circulated bis instructions to 
c\cvy military post, and charged them on their accountability 
to obey them; he in truth infused life, vigour and activity in- 
to every department, and animated every soldier. He wrote 
to every governor in the West, to furnish certain quotas of 
the most active and useful men, to he assembled at New-Or- 
leans. He ordered general Jackson to proceed as early as pos- 
sible to that post to receive the public stores, to organise his 
troops, and prepare to receive in a proper manner the British 
army. Yes ! to bis eternal glory be it remembered, that his 
godlike, mind scanned their hostile views, and arranged the 
plans to counteract them. James Monroe ordered, Jackson 
obeyed, was victorious ; and Orleans was saved. 

When these arrangements were all made, and the Pre- 
sident (having called Congress in the 19th September) direct- 
ed the secretary to arrange a plan for raising a force suffi- 
cient to crush the British army at once, to overrun and secure 
Canada, and close an expensive and harrassing war at a blow. 
With great labor and calculation, the secretary undertook 
the arduous task, and very soon after the meeting of Congress 
presented to the President the well remembered conscription 
plan for raising eighty thousand men : a plan so much extolled 
by many, and opposed by few. But my own opinion, and 
confident belief is, and ever has been, and was so. as soon as I 
read it, th.it it must produce peace, because, that the govern- 
ment would raise the force 1 had no doubt — That it would have 
been sufficient to overrun Canada, was unquestionable, as well 
as- for the defence of other points. Very happily for us, and 
for humanity, the British government took that view of the 
plan which its effects were calculated to produce, as soon as 
the plan was known to the cabinet of St.. James. They wisely 
judged that it would be less dishonorable to withdraw their 
sine qua rum, and make peace as soon as possible, than submit 
to the disgrace of losing two provinces — iience the last in- 



24 



structions to their commissioners at Ghent, which produced 
the treaty; and James Monroe proclaimed the peace which 
his conscription bill hail made. 

About the 1st of March, I received a communication from 
the Post Master General, by express, containing the joyful 
news that peace bad taken place, which express I dispatched 
to every post in the 5th military district over which I bad the 
charge, and immediately commenced the work of lessening 
every possible expense, and discharging every person not ne- 
cessarily employed to preserve the public property until dis- 
posed of. 

I bad forwarded to the War Department my vouchers for 
all expenses in the North Western army, which lay yet un- 
settled — I bad forwarded to the Department and the account- 
ing officers my quarterly accounts, in perfect regular order, 
shewing at every return that I was a considerable creditor, by- 
substituting my due bills where I had made myself responsible 
when funds could not be obtained, as the \\ ar Department 
was at times destitute — whence the little minds of the account- 
ing officers became alarmed, and their Argus eyes were all 
opened to find something wrong in Wheaton's department. — 
Feeling no interest save in the tenure of their own little snug 
places, and as a prop to their own security , they reported that 
>V beaton bad made thirty or forty thousand dollars ; or mean- 
ing that be bad wronged the government out of that sum. or 
miist be a defaulter to that amount — hence a large amount of 
receipts were suspended by the third Auditor. 

" He who filches from me my food name, 
Robs me of that « hicli not enriches him, 
Ilul makes me po> t imleed " 

Having sent to the Department Mr. Samuel Gary, a young 
man who had been highly recommended, (a clerk and assist- 
ant in my department), whose heart was as pure as the inno- 
cence of "the cradle, and who, in short, was integrity personi- 
fied — he had raised every account, taken every receipt, and 
his recollection served him to explain cwvy expense, transac- 
tion, and necessity ; yet he was at length told, " that every 
officer was looked upon as a rogue until his innocence appeared." 
This was the language of that office. Hence the insolence of 
office became insupportable, and he desired that be might not 
be sent to that department again. Twice I had sent Joseph 
Jones Monroe to Washington, to explain my use of the public 
funds, and the necessary expenses to so many departments. — 
As he was the brother of the Secretary of War, his represen- 
tations were the more unquestionable ; — hut the demands on 
the War Department had been great, and a difficulty of rais- 



25 

uig funds was sensibly felt; consequently my responsibilities 
were considerable* and my duo bills bad been issued, on all 
emergencies which enabled uie to supply the armies when mo- 
ney was nut to be bad — and in truth, when circumstances re- 
quired, 1 did not "Withhold myself from any good work.'' In- 
deed it now remains For the Government to approve and re- 
ward me for doing all the duties of commissary of provisions, 
of commissary of ordnance, of superintendant and manager 
of hospitals, Deputy Quarter Master General, or to reprove 
me for doing all those duties which must have been dune, by such 
officers, bad they been appointed and sent to the post at Rich- 
mond ; for I am persuaded, that the Secretary of War did 
know, that all the duties of such officers were necessary at 
every important post, and at Richmond of course ; and finding 
that those duties were all satisfactorily executed, he chose to 
let that post remain, and be supplied under my superinten- 
dance; as he certainly found there was no difficulty in any de- 
partment thereof, in proof of which, the accounts have all pas- 
sed in spection and settlement under the scrutinising and preju- 
diced eyes of the accounting officers, without anv complaint of 
deficiency in any one of those, departments, but have been fully 
approved. — [See Appendix, No. 16.] 

In May, 1815, I received a circular order signed George 
Graham, directing me as to the manner of closing my accounts. 
I was at the time busily engaged in effecting a close, substan- 
tially in the manner pointed out by him. the same with but lit- 
tle variation ; but as I bad never heard the name of George 
Graham, nor bad ever heard of an order being given to any 
General or officer of the army, save by the Secretary of War, 
or by his order ; on the persuasion of all those officers about 
me, who were conversant in military affairs, I omitted to an- 
swer the letter, this was the "head and front of my offending,-" 
but continued to fulfil the contents by all the means in my 
power — I sold off every disposeablc article of public property 
to advantage, save a small quantity of powder, which, for want 
of a magazine, had been stored in large quantities during the 
war in log cabins, and for which I had been twice presented to 
the Court and Grand Jury fur keeping it near Richmond. 

Tne Court having demanded of me to inform them where it 
was kept, I refused to gi\ e them any information on the subject, 
judging that the civil authority of Virginia had no control over 
an officer of the army, or the property of the United States, 
and that it would beexposngthe munitions of war to the enemy. 
This was supported by the voluntary aid of that honorable 
gentleman Andrew Stephenson, Esq. an eminent Lawyer in 
Richmond. The powder was the last article to be disposep ef, 

4 



it was much damaged and in a perisltabe state, and as the 
war v as over, 1 felt that I liad not the power of military con- 
trol — hence, to avoid being further harrassed by the civil au- 
thority. I sold it to the best possible advantage in a private 
manner to James DeWolfe, merchant, of Richmond, and 
credited the amount to the United States. Yet this sale was 
magnified into criminality by the 3d Auditor, and hung up dis- 
allowed for more than two years, until that honorable gentle- 
man, the Secretary of War, ordered the 3d Auditor to pass the 
amount to my credit — Thus was I harrassed, step by step, in 
almost every account which came before that officer, until the 
close which he made of my accounts in 1819 ; keeping me con- 
stantly attending on his commands, until that date. Indeed I 
consider it owing to the just imbressions which Congress en- 
tertained of my services in tjXelast war, that they passed the 
compulsory law, direr; 'lr 8f counting officers of the Trea- 
sury Department to settle -the accounts of Joseph Wheatoh, 
in the Quarter Master's Department, on principles of equity 
and justice," or those accounts would not have, been settled to 
this day; and the object of this appeal is to show to the understan- 
di'is: and to common sense, that the principles of equity and jus- 
tic ■ have not been extended to me by the accounting officers. 
For I consider it the sacred duty of the Government, that where 
service is required, compensation should be made —and surely 
n:> part of my services from the commencement of the war un- 
til the close of my accounts was rendered in any manner for my ■ 
own particidar interest or benefit, other than in common with 
every citizen of the United States. 

As my transactions had been extensive from Richmond to the 
western Counties of Virginia on the river Ohio, in the march- 
ing of twenty thousand men from thence to Richmond, to Nor- 
folk, and the various points on the Chesapeake Bay and its in- 
lets, it was very difficult to bring all those transactions to a 
close, or even to make a statement of the unsettled certificates 
given by my agents in the various counties from which those 
mtl'tia troops were drawn, and somewhat difficult to close all 
those accounts in the more immediate vicinity of Richmond, 
consisting of commissary of provisions, of an ordnance depart- 
ment, of an hospital department, and of the Deputy Quarter 
Master General's Department — and moreover the War De- 
partment having been changed no less than six times in the 
course of my service, it was impossible for me, consistent with 
other duties to write a history of my transactions from the 
first, to each of the gentlemen at the head of that department ; 
an ! to explain the course of my proceedings, and the exact sit- 
uation of the different departments 1 filled satisfactorily to each 



2.7 

»f those little minds before whom my accounts had been placed 
for examination, hence some thousands of dollars ba<l been sus- 
pended or disallowed, and 1 nrtst be a defaulter of i ourse. 

Having been unable to bring my affairs i" a dose with all 
my exertions* and insinuations busily on the wing; I received 
a letter from Mr George Graham, dated 5th October, I S 15, 
ordering me to deliver over all my books, papers, and other 
property belonging to my department [See Appendix No. ih.J 
to Captain Giles IJ Cook, who 1 afterwards found to be a ju- 
nior officer in the Quarter Master's Department, i was then 
made to feel the effect of all the prejudice which little minds 
had created and circulated — On the 15th of the same month 1 
had been able to collect a part of my accounts, and pay off tv, en- 
ty four thousand dollars which 1 had received from the sale of 
public property; and from Mr. Monroe, while he was Secretary 
of War, which enabled me to lessen my due bills considerably, 
and to put my accounts Ihus far in a proper shape for tin ac- 
counting officers. I left Richmond, arrived at Washington, 
and immediately presented myself and my documents to the ac- 
counting officers for examination, urging 'a speedy enquiry.* 
and stating I was a creditor to a considerable amount, that my 
due bills were still in the hands of many worthy citizens, who 
had placed high confidence in me, and solicited that as early as 
possible I might be furnished with funds to relieve them; but, in 
answer to my enquiries, 1 was made to feel the full measure of 
the. insolence of office. 1 stated that 1 had been absent from a 
helpless family near five years, save twenty days, as 1 passed 
through Washington in November, 1813, from the North Wes- 
tern army, and was destitute of the means of support. 1 was 
answered that I could not have a single dollar until my accounts 
were settled, and indeed but for Governor Meigs, with wh >m 
1 had served in the North Western army, and the Comptroller 
of the Treasury, Joseph Anderson. Esq. a Revolutionary offi- 
cer, who gave me access to their parses until 1 received a sum 
of money from the Post Office, winch had been due me eight 
years, and which enabled me to set down by the accounting 
officers and undergo their rules of inquisition, ilencc 1 atten- 
ded from November 1815 until March following; and in the 
mean time was constantly harrassed with calls for the pay- 
ment of my due bills, until I found it necessary to get sonic 
gentleman of influence to hasten the enquiries, to which end I 
made a general statement to the honorable Boling Hall of the 
House of Representatives, requesting him to wait on the Se- 
cretary of War at some convenient season when he could be 
found most at leisure, and represent to him m> distressing situ- 
ation. Mr. Hull informed mc that he had done so, and the Se- 



28 

eretary of War immediately ordered the accounting officers 
to ascertain what was the probable amount due to me on my 
Quarter Master's accounts — tliey reported there appeared due 
to Joseph Wheaton, D. Q. M. G. g7,650 ; that genttcman then 
ordered a portion of that sum to be paid over to Giles H. Cook 
to pay a part of my due bills ; this course compelled me to re- 
turn immediately to Richmond and join Capt. Cook to attest 
and approve those due bills as they were presented for pay- 
ment, and so on alternately as Capt. Cook was furnished with 
funds which were found to be due to me. This enabled me at 
the same time to attend to Die floating certificates which had 
been given in the distant counties of Virginia, consequent on 
the inarching of twenty thousand militia in the course of the 
war by the several agents which I had sent out to provide for 
and bring them forward and to settle all claims in Richmond 
and its vicinity. As soon as it could be ascertained that all 
those due bills were paid off. all the accounts in the vicinity of 
Richmond settled and all certificates approved, which had been 
f oread over the State of Virginia in consequence of the nature, 
of the service, and not a demand on the government existing 
against, any one of the four departments which I had filled so 
much to the satisfaction of all interested. [See Appendix No. 18.] 
I returned to the city of Washington again in November 1817, 
with the confident belief that I had nothing to do but to effect 
%n immediate close to all my accounts; but here again I met 
■with the same usage as before — and passing through the winter 
of 1817, and onto Sept. 1818, the 3d Auditor made his final 
report, exhibiting a balance against me of 88.900, on which I 
immediately appealed to the 2d Comptroller, who, on looking 
at the disallowances of flic 3d Auditor and comparing them 
with the receipts and the articles which payments were made, 
took his pen and dashed oft" 2,513 dollars ; I then appealed to 
tlie Secretary of War, that gentleman also examined the re- 
maining receipts, and had explained to him the purposes for 
which the pay ments were made ; he then ordered a further di- 
minution of the 3d Auditor's disallowances of g2,540, and sug- 
gested the propriety of my applying to Congress for relief for 
the balance. In this sum disallowed, was included all the ex- 
pense of provisions furnished to 220 men on their march from 
Canton to Upper Sandusky, from the 7th Dec. 1812, to 26th 
Jan. 1813, and some trivial expenses at Richmond in 1814. 

It was then made necessary injustice to my own character, 
to make a statement with a memorial to Congress, which was 
presented. After a satisfactory investigation by that honora- 
ble gentleman, now our Minister in Spain, Mr. Forsythe, who 
presented the memorial, it was referred to the military com 



29 

uiittee, the chairman of which committee was the honorable 
Richard M. Johnson. — As 1 lie friend of a soldier he appeared 
to take sufficient interest in the statement to give it a fair ex- 
amination] and the committee being satisfied, he reported a 
Bill which passed' both Houses of Congress unanimously, in 
the folio win? words : -Be it enacted by the Senate and House 
ofRepresi ntativesofthe United States of America in Congress 
assembled, that the proper accounting officers of the Treasury 
Department be authorised and directed to settle and adjust tli« 
accounts of Joseph Wbeaton. while acting in the Quarter Mas- 
ter General's Department during the late war, upon princi- 
ples of equity and justice." [See laws of Congress, 15th ses- 
sion, passed 3d March, 1819.] 

Now, as I humbly conceive that they have not complied 
with the requisitions of this law, 1 beg leave to appeal to my 
Government from their settlement. It is shewn and acknow- 
ledged that I acted in the Commissary's Department from the 
7th Dec. 1812, to the 26th Jan 1K13 ; (certified by Colonel 
Gratiot.) for which I am entitled to the pay and emoluments of 
a Deputy Quarter General ; that 1 acted as physician, superin- 
tendant, and manager of hospitals, from 1st Jan. 1814, to 19th 
Nov. 1817; that I acted as commissary of provisions, from 
2tst Dec until l9thNov. 1817 ; that I acted as commissary of 
ordnance from 1st Jan. 1814 to 19th Nov. 1817 ; [See accounts 
settled ] neither pay or emoluments of which have I received ; 
and that. I acted as Deputy Quarter Master General from 14th 
Sept 1814 until my accounts were settled. 

I have charged my services to 19th Nov. 1817 only, having 
been employed in the General Land Office* since that date, 
although attending to the adjustment of the suspended ac- 
counts of the Quarter Master General's Department, until 
March, 1819, and to the settlements the accounting officers 
chose to make. 

From the commencement of my service, until the final set- 
tlement of ray accounts, (as determined by the arbitrary will 
of the accounting officers — I was always addressed by the War 
Department, and by the accounting officers themselves) as a 
Deputy Quarter Master General, yet when the third Auditor 



* It was through the benevolence of Josiah Meigs Esq. who knew 
my situation, and who knew the pains and distressing difficulties under 
which I had been made to labor — that I was indebted for a situation 
which enabled me to get my scanty rations. Had it not been for his 
goodness, I should now have been a beggar, and after having worn out 
my best days in the service of my country, wasted by poverty, I might, 
like Peter Landas, have died in a poor-house. 



30 

made his final close of my accounts, tic then, and not until 
then informed tue fell at I was only serving with the rank and 
emoluments of a Captain of Infantry, produced the A-iju- 
tant General's note, "Joseph \\ heaton was appointed Depu- 
ty Quarter Master General on the 13th Sept. 1814 — negativ- 
ed by the Senate on the 30t!i of J n. I Ski. 

Adj. &l-nsp. Gen. Office, March 10th 1S19. 
(Signed.) D. Parkek Adj. Gen." 

When i received this information, I was made to realize 
that — mistakes and misrepresentations had reached even the 
sanctuary of the Senate, and aitho' I had faithful friends in 
that Sanctum Sanctorum, who knew me through near two 
wars, as they did not possess the power of divination, could 
not oppose the specious statements offered against my honor, 
and the service I had rendered to my country ; nor shall I 
ever uelicve, that those, statements were not derived from 
those little minds, who, had made a very imperfect inquiry in- 
to my accounts ; for to those am I indebted for the •• law's 
delay'' of near seven years, to the pretended final settlement; 
of my accounts; a period, injurious to reputation, ruinous to 
my interest, and poverty to my family. 

Yet 1 have a consolation arising from the fact, thatneither 
the President nor Secretary of War, whose hearts were gowd- 
uess, and whose minds were justice, and who were well ac- 
quainted with my minute proceedings, ever informed me of the 
same; and the first official information which I received on 
that subject, was from the Adjutant General's Office, lOtli of 
March ! 819. All my letters and instructions from the Se re- 
taty of War, and also from the accounting officers, continued 
to maintain the same address, and therefore I was kept whol- 
ly in the dark until the date above. I had, forwarded to me 
afterdate of the 30th of January 1S15, 830,000 for two de- 
partments. Sir-, 000 for myself, andg15,000 for Colonel Swan, 
and all the time considered and held under the despotic rule of 
Military law. — I confess •• 'twas strange, passing strange." 

The President, and Secretary of War, relied on my experi- 
ence, fidelity, and perseverance — they were not disappointed. 
The Governor and citizens of the State of Ohio, acknowledg- 
ed my aid in her protection — Virginia too, witnessed my ser- 
vices in the defence of her important mercantile city of Nor- 
folk — the inhabitants, my protecting care of their sick citizen 
soldiers — and her numerous forces, the comfort extended to 
then on their long marches from every part of their wide do- 
main : and I have learned, the Governor admitted that I ful- 
lilled all the duties and powers of my commission. 
"Thus was I laboring for the honor of the Government on 



my own entire exnense. without the aul of a dollar from the 
Treasury, or a cup of small beer, or its value, to w< t lily lips; 
and this was the scale of equity and justice extended to Joseph 
AYheaton h> the third Audi/or of the Treasury TS'ot a cent 
was 1 allowed for either of the four offices I had filled— of 
Commissary of Provisions, of Commissary of Ordnance, of 
Hospital Purveyor, or of Deputy Quarter Master (Jeneral. 

If in the hurried moments of eventful periods, I have taken 
on myself responsibilities not authorised, hut which imperious 
circumstances demanded. I oft'er as an apology my education 
and habits derived from the principles of the devolution, com- 
mencing when there was no government in the land, no law, no 
troops, no ships of war. no money and no arms — nothing to 
oppose to proud Albion's artillery, but breasts of bronze and 
the anient spirits of a people, entering upon a cause which 
" life, fortune, and sacred honor " were pledged to support. — 
I could not then withhold myself from >> any good work " in 
obedience to orders and in defence of the hallowed land of my 
nativity, or of my Government which Iliad the honor to fan 
and to nurse in the cradle of infancy, thence to manhood, until 
I have the pride and pleasure to see it seated on a pinnacle, 
surrounded with a blaze of glory, the light of which extends 
to either pole, diffusing its influence by her statesmen from the 
rising to the setting sun — commanding from the St. Lawrence 
to the Sabine, and from the Atlantic to the Western Ocean — 
speaking to the nations through her trumpets in the Mediter- 
ranean, the Chinese Seas, and the Pacific, " Behold yonder 
flag! regard those stars, or dread its stripes" — If I have 
exceeded any order, it has been the gain of territory— the 
protection of the Hamlet — the defence of Cities and Towns, 
with increased reputation to Government and her armies, with 
saving much of the public funds. 

Discarded by parents — deprived of patrimony — equity and 
justice denied— advanced in yeai^ — grown grey in the service 
of my country — made poor by patriotism, I appeal to the jus- 
tice and to the equity of that government it has been my delight 
to serve. 

Believing it will appear that the third Auditor has not ful- 
filledyour noble and generous expectation, as expressed in 
the law of 3d March 1819 in my behalf, nor evinced himself 
the faithful conservator of your honor. 

Compelled to speak of myself in defence of injuries, I am 
aware it will be said, it is the language of an aggrieved man, 
not geared with the style of a belle letters scholar. Triik, I 
left every object -t >ar to •..,> for the more noble purpose of lib- 
•rating an oppressed people, to raise a government out of chaos. 



a2 



My associations hare been the rude camp — the picquet guard 
— the forlorn hope — tlic last ditch — a living document, 
marred and ncmbered, first and last in your' defence, 
and for your glory, with scars of wounds left unpaid, unpension- 
erf, unthanked, unheeded — not reposing on abed of roses, my pillow 
has been by turns, the winter snows — my couch, the cold 
ground. It is not to be presumed that I can use soft and 
courtly phrases, command the eloquence of the Bar, or round 
my periods with Senatorial precision — forty years devotion to 
your renown — my profession Arms, not Letters. 

Fathers! May I then make my humble appeal to your 
Justice, and to your Magnanimity ? With the homage of my 
heart, and with the most profound respect, as in duty bound, I 
will defend this consecrated land 

JOSEPH WHEATON 

lateDep. Q. M. Gen. & Maj. of Cavalry. 



ajnnimmis pro. a* 

Tlie undersigned, who served in the revolutionary army — in tit?, line 
of Jersey — in the course of the war became acquainted with Lieutenant 
Joseph Wheaton — who served in the Rhode-Island line — they hud se- 
veral occasions to observe his conduct as an officer, ami a soldier — he 
served with them at the seige of York, as an officer, Mr. Wheaton w .is 
considered active, intelligent, judicious and accurate in discipline — -as a 
soldier not merely brave — but daring in the field — he was considered to 
p issess qualities for a partizan officer — and in our present conflict, 
should Government think proper to avail itself of the experience and 
enterprise of Mr. Wheaton, we have no doubt he might and would ren- 
der much service to his countrv. 



Signed, 



JOSEPH ANDERSON, 
WILLIAM ANDERSON. 



July 3, 1812. 

The undersigned, from their knowledge of Capt. Wheaton entertain 
no doubt of his qualifications lor a commission in the annv of the United 
States. lie is active, intelligent, and brave. His constitution inured 
to the camp during the revolutionary war throughput which he served, 
fits him for a soldier's life. In the present, the undersigned are persuad- 
ed that he would be useful, his knowledge ot" the enemy's country, 
Would render his service of great advantage to the President of the l T ni 
ted States. The undersigned beg leave to recommend Capt. \\ heaton for 
a commission in the army. 

SAMUEL PLEASANTS, RICHARD CUTTS, 

ANTHONY NEWE, TIIOS. GHOLSON, 

JOSEPH LEFEVER, JO. DAWSON. 

JOHN POPE, J. B. HOWELL, 

THOS. NEWTON, JOHN C.OND1T. 

July 3, 181 2. 

APPENDIX NO. 2. 

Washington, 0/// April, IS if). 
Dear Sir — In consequence of the conversation we had the oilier dav 
respecting your enterprizes during the revolutionary war, 1 now com- 
mit to paperthe substance of a conversation which happened at the table 
of the honorable William Hazen, who was one of the Council for Ilis 
Britannic Majesty's Province of New Brunswick with whom I had the 
honor to dine, at the City St. John, in the month of February, i ^86, in 
company with the honorable Edward Winslow, U illiam White and se- 
veral other gentlemen of high standing. 

Mr. Hazen was an old inhabitant of that place, and in the course of his 
remarks, he observed that the original settlers of the Province were a 
very loyal people, firmly attached to his majesty, and the British con- 
stitution — that at the commencement of the war, between Great Britain 
and her colonies, they had declared themselves in favor of the Crown 

1 



2 

of England, except about thirty families, who had made their election 
iu favor of the United States, and the heads of them had volunteered 
their services to attack Fort Cumberland, then in possession of the Bri- 
tish troops, which was situated higher up the Bay of Fundy — that witli 
the exception of those thirty families, the inhabitants of the Province 
sere truly loyal, and they had it in contemplation to take up arms and 
reduce Machias and the neighbouring towns on the bay, as they con- 
ceived great quantities of masts, spars and lumber could be obtained 
from tho^e places io supply his majesty's Careening Yard at Halifax with 
such articles for the use of tiie royal navy. 

But they were disappointed in their views, and not able to put their 
plan into execution, by reason of the arrival of some armed vessels from 
Machias, and a party of men under the command of a Mr. Joseph 
Wheaton, who entered the harbour of St. Johns, took possession of 
Fort Howe, and completely disarmed all the inhabitants, in conse- 
quence of which, they were obliged to remain neutral until the arrival of 
Major Studholm, with part of a regiment of the Nova Scotia volunteers, 
who came to their relief, when they remained in peace until the termi- 
nation of the war. 

Hoping sir, that your country will reward you for the active part 
which yon took in its defence, not only for your personal services at 
the early part of the struggle: but through the whole course of the re- 
volutionary war, and since it obtained its independence, and the sacri- 
fice you made by offending your father Captain Caleb Wheaton of the 
royal regiment of Pioneers, an officer I well remember for his zeal and 
activity in favor of the British Government, and who deemed disloyalty 
to his King a crime not to be forgiven. 

I am very respectfully, sir, 
your most obedient servant, 

EDWARD STOW. 

Major Joseph Wheaton. 

Georgetown, April 24fA, 1820. 

To Major Wheaton — Sir, I most cheerfully comply with your wishes, 
but the length of time which has elapsed since I had the interview with 
your brother (and at whose particular request 1 sought you out) will 
not enable me to be minute as to all the conversation which took place. 
In a voyage which I made to the Gulph of St. Laurence in 1815, 1 land- 
ed at the Gut of Canso, where I found your brother who was very par- 
ticular in his inquiries relative to you and your family, which informa- 
tion as far as I possessed it, was cheerfully afforded him. Among the 
many observations. I well recollect the following : " he supposed you 
; " had been a second time lighting against your King and family for the 
" da'mnedyankee rebels, thought you had enough of it in the revolution ; 
i! that while your brothers had all held honorable commissions in bis 
" majesty's service, (Colonels and Majors) and had large grants of land 
•' in N. America, you were a disgraced rebel, had thrown yourself from 
"your father's favor, who mentioned in his will his poignant regret at 
•• your disloyalty and want of filial affection, and had consequently cut 
"you off with a shilling" — he added with some emotion '• that you de- 



" served it all; but thai still it would afford htm the greatest pleasure 

" this side of the grave to behold you once more." 

If the above can be any service to yon, I shall be gratified. 
With respect, cVc I am yours, 

\V. A. RLND, Jun'r. 

Ari'ENDIX NO. 3. 

Greensburg, August 2~th, 131 2. 
Sir — Yesterday when at Dennistown I fust learned the Unfortunate 
event which lias befallen General Hull ; though no official account has 
reached this, the report is so corroborated by the expresses and letters 
that frill credit is given to the acco.int. In consequence I have called on 
Captain Joseph Markle who commands a troop of horse, and Captain 
John li. Alexander, who commands a company of riflemen, to be pre- 
pared and hold themselves in readiness to inarch at a moments warn- 
ing. 1 proceed immediately to Union town where I shall be this day, 
and prepare the company at that place and at New Geneva to-morrov, . 
But as it will take a few days for all these companies to make arrange- 
ments fc leaving their families so long, I shall omit to direct them to 
Niagara — believing you will see the necessity of altering there destina- 
tion, and direct them to the state of Ohio. Should you think proper to 
order Captain Robeit Alison of Huntingdon to Pittsburg instead of 
Niagara you will have time between this and Monday after next, the day 
he is to inarch. — The agitation here is considerable, as it is stated that 
the enemy is in considerable force at Miami, at Huron, and on their 
way to Cleveland. Under these circumstances 1 shall not hasten my 
retm a. but wait at Pittsburg and in this vicinity, until 1 may receive fur- 
ther orders, which please to direct to me at this place, where the post- 
master will forward to me at whatever place I may necessarily be. It 
is a subject of deep regret to me, to see so many fine spirited fellows 
(ready at any call) but totally ignorant of every necessary qualification 
to constitute the soldier, except what God and nature has given to 
them — hence subjects for every disease incident to a camp, (children 
without a nurse) no one to direct the police of a camp, or instruct 
them in discipline — and my powers are so limited that I can do but 
little in that respect. 

I have the honor to be faithfully, 

your devoted servant, 

JOSEPH W1IEATON, 
a. d. a. m. 
The Honorable William Eustis, Esq. 
Secretary at War. 

August 2~th, 1812 
P. S. Since writing the foregoing, I have received and forwarded to 
you the capitulation of Gen. Hull — 1 know what your disappointment 
will be. 1 can say no more. 
Yours, 

J. W. 
Wm. Eustis, Esq.. 
S. W. 



Vmontoien, August -2St/i, 1812. 

Sir — I left Greensburg yesterday after 10 A. M. and arrived at this 
place at 9 P. M. 35 miles — since which I have given to Capt. Collins 
and Philips their commissions, and directed them to be in readiness to 
march on Thursday next — to Capt. Markle and Capt. Alexander I 
gavethe same directions, after seeing the capitulation of Genera! Hull. 
I have also directed Captain M'Clelland to he ready at the same time 
and wait further orders — these several companies consist of three of in- 
fantry and two of cavalry, which with the company of Captain Butters 
at Pittsburg will constitute a force of 330 men horse and foot, which I 
am forming into a legionary corps to constitute a partisan corps — or as 
you may please to direct. You will see sir I avail myself of the last clause 
in your orders to me, to govern myself by such deviations as circum- 
stances may render necessary. Under the serious disappointment which 
you must feel from the capture of General Hulls troops, and the enemy 
advancing upon the frontier of the state of Ohio : I trust you will not 
censure for exercising a sound discretion in the deviation from your or- 
ders, particularly when the enemy is believed to be in considerable 
force, and of a kind calculated to excite so considerable alarm, and such 
universal sensation as is here expressed. However, sir, I shall not pre- 
sume further than to organize this corps, move it to a small distance 
in order to be useful to its discipline, keep it in a situation to move to 
either of the points Niagara or the frontiers of Ohio where the enemy 
are said to be, and place myself where the troops can receive the ear- 
liest orders you may please to forward. 

You will please to observe that neither of the Captains, M'Clelland, 
Markle, or Alexander or their officers are furnished with commissions — 
As I shall be between Pittsburg and Greensburg when you are about to 
send your orders for the disposal of this force with whatever I can add 
to it, any letters may reach me through either post-office. 
I have the honor to be faithfully, 

sir, your devoted servant, 

JOSEPH WH EATON, 

A. D. Q. M. 

The IIonorahle William Eustis, Esq. 
Secretary at War. 

Pittsburg, 30,/i August, 1812. 

Sir — I wrote you from Greensburg and from Uuiontown, and of the 
several companies, horse and foot, in the different parts of the country 
I was directed to — and came here agreeable to your verbal orders to 
Mr. Johnson A. D. Q. M. I called on him this day and made myself 
known to him. and asked him the several questions relative to the vari- 
ous supplies furnished for the detachment from Kentucky and Ohio as 
yon directed — to which he answered by saying he had reported to your 
officer the amount and quality of supplies. Believing sir that your feel- 
ing and disposition will go along with the people in giving them all ne- 
cessary support, I have not hurried the three companies for Niagara — 
but encouraged them to be in the most perfect readiness by Thursday 
next, together with Captain Markles troop, Captain M'Clellands troop 



and Captain Alexanders company of riflemen, in the belief that with 
Captain Butlers company, and two or three more which may be added 
to make a legionary or partisan corps of horse, foot and riflemen, of vo- 
lunteers who have offered themselves to the President, they would form 
a part of the necessary number, and as their service will be of longer 
duration could relieve some of the militia of Ohio on whom the service 
will become very burthensonie, as in parts of the state of Ohio all the 
militia are called out. 

Captain Butlers company I find very ready to march, but he informs 
me, he is entirely in want of arms and some articles such as knapsacks 
and blankets, and did believe that the aims would be furnished by the 
United States. Such is the anxiety of the public mind around in this 
vicinity, that in one case the judges adjourned the court, and a body of 
some tew hundred men assembled, took six days provisions and march- 
ed for Fort Erie, and appointed the officers themselves. On Monday 
the volunteer corps, the officers and men requested to be ordered to the 
nearest place the enemy can be found, and have intreated my being with 
them as much as possible, and to be as useful to them in discipline as 
my orders will permit. So sir you see what I am doing, riding from one 
company to another at 35 and 40 miles from each other, and getting 
them in readiness as much as possible. 

I learn there are tents, knapsacks, axes, froghs and spades, shovels 
a traveling forge, guns, flints, powder, ball, &c. here to make a consi- 
derable supply. Please to write me and direct whether I must confine 
myself to the limited orders I have, or to what extent I may go. 

1 understand there are at this post about 150 men lately enlisted and 
one officer who has seen some service. If these recruits could be added 
to the volunteers with this Capt. of the old troops, they would together 
make a respectable command. 

Inclosed is a handbill — From Col. Cass's statement, the people here 
know not what measures are taken by the war department, and are 
generally making themselves ready to march whenever any orders may 
be forwarded for that purpose. 

Faithfully, I am sir, 

your devoted servant, 

JOSEPH WHEATON, 
A. n. o.. m. 
The Honorable William Eustis, Esq. 
Secretary at War. 

appendix no. -1. 

Pittsburg, September 3rd, 1812. 
Dear Sir — I must write you with the frankness of a friend which is 
impressed on me by the habits of my life, and which is riveted in my 
composition from an association of men of my early life, who had a 
common interest and the same concern, viz. our country, of which you 
were one — Without further preface permit me Xu state, that as I have 
named to the secretary at war six thousand men would be necessary to 
repair the loss by General Hull, it is my duty to explain why and how 
they should be employed — The wholeTerritory of Michigan is now open 



to the Lillians, and on which they are making considerable ravages, and 
the inhabitants flying' in all directions. The Territory of Indiana is not 
equal to check their progress, as every party is aided by some British 
troops and officers, many Canadian French, the hunters, and traders of 
the upper country — the whole front of the lake to Cleveland on 
Erie is accessible, on the state of Oliio, and which constitutes a large 
country — will it not then he necessary to march three detachments one 
for the South Point of lake Michigan, one from Cincinnati by General 
Waynes road, and one to lake Erie or by Cleveland, and join at Detroit, 
in order effectually to force back the enemy and regain that post ; which 
when done, advance with the collected force upon Maiden, and take 
strong position on that side of the lake, and give to the inhabitants a 
confidence not to be shaken in the government or its ability to effect 
the object of reducing Canada. General Dearborn will be advancing 
upon ISiagara and Montreal — and by moving a force unquestionable as 
to its ability to carrv its point, the opposition ceases, and the loss and 
expenses light in comparison with persevering with a small force, only 
sufficient to advance by difficult means. The spirit of the country is up, 
the minds of all friends appear to be settled on this subject, and the 
women say to the men march. To effect these objects, a select num- 
ber of good men must be made to lead your forces, they will be ambitious 
to get to their place of general tendezvous, and excel if possible. I 
should not hesitate to say Governor Harrison would make a good leader 
of the whole, the voice of observation in this quarter is highly in his 
favor. Perseverance and judgment is now called for, and nothing will 
satisfy the people in this quarter but great exertion on the part of the 
government. The sympathy of all on account of the disgrace to the coun- 
try is expressed in the strongest terms — poor Captain Piatt cried like a 
child at the shameful loss of Millers regiment and the disgrace to the 
country. You will have a detail in the paper which is iuclosed of the 
men heretofore (in public service) which may be relied on (I believe.) 
I have the same from two different men coming here, and both relating 
the same verbatim. Your mind will be harrassed I know, and your 
exertion called for. A system without wavering, may be pursued, 
which will regain all, I have no doubt, but delay is fatal. 
I have the honor to be faithfully, 

your obedient servant, 

JOSEPH WHEATOX. 
The Honorable Wm. Eustis, 
Secretary at War, Duplicate. 

[confidential.] 

Sir — You will not withhold yourself from any good work. I have 
thought you might be essentially useful in helping on the cannon and 
other stores. 

Yours, &c. 

\Y. EUSTIS. 
October 3rd, 1S12\ 



Sir — Tn case yon have not forwarded to Capt. Piatt my letters hand- 
ed you at this place, you will deliver them to those gentlemen who are 
going direct to Sandusky ; they contain a declaration that ('apt. William 
Piatt ought to have had in possession by all means before this time; my 
orders were to semi it on by express. 1 sent some letters yesterday by 
Mr. Simpson express to ('apt. Piatt, am) not recollecting the circum- 
stance to direct him to call on you and inquire if they were forwarded, 
1 have taken this opportunity. 

I much lament your unfortunate case, I knew to a certuiutv that it 
was not in the art of man with strength of horses to take a loaded wag- 
gon over those roads in case they were once broken up. Every assis- 
tance I can give you shall have with pleasure. 
I am yours, &c. 

WILLIAM DUEFIELD, a. d. q. m. 

Capt. Joseph Wheaton, 

A. D. Q. M. 

North W. Army. 

APPENDIX NO. (>. 

Pittsburg, October 6th, 1812 — 9 P. M. 

Sir — Since I closed my letter I have been with the officers and troops 
of the Pa. militia. They have closed their election and appointed a man 
totally unacquainted with all military duty, and there is considerable 
dissatisfaction among the men. One whole company have marched off 
this day ; a troop of horse went off four days since. What they may do 
when they come into service I cannot say ; they promise but little, judg- 
ing from their state of subordination. 

I have made every possible enquiry as to the actual force General 
Harrison has with him when time would allow me, but cannot get any 
information to be relied on; I am however, inclined to believe that the 
enemy will exert himself to keep us out of Upper Canada, and should 
he by any means defeat these forces all our western country would be 
again open, and it would produce such a panic, that even this place 
would be made uneasy : Therefore permit me to suggest to you that al- 
though Gen. Hjirrison might, when collected, have ten thousand men, 
it will -hen ctmsed over into Upper Canada restore confidence, and 
make supplies WB°e easily obtained than with doubtful means, at the 
same time they vfill feel us even at Niagara and cause him to be very 
circumspect how he attempts to advance upon that part of the country, 
N. V. and that being more central, much easier supported than at the 
distance we are going. I would then presume to ask you to let this force 
go on, there will be much falling off, and when concentrated perhaps 
not so formidable as you may expert. Being a stranger in the western 
part of Ohio, I am extremely anxious as to forage, tho' I trust Gen- 
eral Harrison is providing magazines in advance. There will be I pre- 
sume of cavalry, of artillery, and wagon horses at least one thousand in 
number, but on the frontier all will he dismissed that can be dispensed 
with. When I shall reach general Harrison I shall be very careful to 
give you every possible intelligence, when even I may imagine it useful, 
r;:id be as attentive as my situation will permit. 



Pittsbvfg, October ~th, 1812. 

Dear Sir — I am now more able to inform you relative to the troops 
here than when I wrote yesterday. I was with adjutant general Reed, 
of this state, when he received the troops after being organized into 
battallions, regiments, &c. forming one brigade under the command of 
general Crooks who is elected the brigadier general — the adjutant gen- 
eral informed me they might amount to 1500 men, and that he did ex- 
pect 300 more to come on, but which is uncertain. — Major Stodard 
delivered to general Crooks a letter which he had received some days 
since from general Harrison, directed to the commanding officer of these 
troops, requesting him to march them as early as possible to Worcester 
in the slate of Ohio — so that general Harrison has been some time ex- 
petting them, and of course appears to think them necessary, and I 
find that general Harrison is arranging his columns in the manner I 
suggested to you some time ago, in three divisions to assemble at the 
rapids of the Miami of the lake. These troops will not march before 
Tuesdayor Wednesday next, and will not be much in advance of the 
Artillery. The troops at Meadsville are not vet gone, but 'tis said they 
will march on Friday next to Bulfaloe and to Niagara — I learn from 
general Reed and others, that they would all much rather go with Har- 
rison, he is so highly estimated in this part of the country. And sir per- 
mit me to say the force ought to be formidable, and to shew that the 
first was in reality only an advanced guard, though the Indians cannot 
meet us as in summer, the woods will be clear of leaves, the grass under 
the snow, they cannot hide, or ambuscade, nor keep the field for want 
of clothing — the enemies ships will be fast bound in ice, and a winter 
campaign will not only retrieve all the ground that has been lost by 
general Hull, but enable us to take Maiden, and at least secure the pro- 
vince of Upper Canada. 

I am sir, faithfully, 
your most obedient servant. 

JOSEPH WHEATON. 

The Honorable Wm. Eustis, 
Secretary at War. 

appendix no "• 

Washington City, 3rd yiugiist. ISIS*. 

I hereby certify, that duiing the summer of 1812, I was ordered by 
Mr. Eustis the tlien Secretary of War to proceed to Pittsburg and there 
report myself to Major Amos Stoddard of the Artillery, as an assistant 
to prepare the munitions of War destined for the use of the N. W. army 
under Oen. Harrison. That, conformably to that order I received Ma- 
jor Stoddard's commands in preparing the munitions, and afterwards on 
or about the middle of November of the said year, that of taking charge 
of the convoy which was to convey them to Upper Sandusky state of 
Ohio, the concentrating point of the centre of said army. That, as I 
was not by law authorised to keep horses in service, and the nature of 
the duties I was entering upon required my being mounted, Major 
Stoddard directed Capt. Joseph Wheaton the A. Q. M. < Jeneral attached 
to the convoy, to furnish me a hurst completely equipped for that ;■'.::- 



pose, which was accordingly complied with — said horse dying during 
the winter whilst in my possession, the accoutrements were retuttfed to 
the Q. M. G. Department at camp Meigs.— That, the convoy consisted 
of from sixty to seventy covered wagons, from twenty to thirty travel- 
ling gun carriages — two ammunition wagons and two travelling forges, 
conducted by myself as commandant, < lapt. Jos. Wheaton, A. <.,>. M. <J. 
to the convoy, two wagon masters with eight or ten assistants) one 
forage master with three or four assts. all of whom had from the nature 
of their respective duties to be mounted. That, there must have belong- 
ed to said convoy from five hundred to five hundred and twenty horses 
to be foraged on the march by the Q M. G. Department : that the guard 
attached to said convoy consisted of one company and of one small de- 
attachment both of Pennsylvania militia, making together an aggregate 
of about ninety five men. who were employed on the march mostly in 
repairing the roads, opening new ones, mending and making bridges ; 
that there were also in addition to the above, ten or twelve artificers 
(carpenters and blacksmiths) whose duties it was to repair the damages 
sustained by the convoy in passing over roads till then deemed almost 
impervious during the wet seasons. That, including (he guards, drivers, 
cVc. there must have been fully two hundred and twenty persons to vic- 
tual, and as the contracts of Mr. Dany of Pittsburg did not extend the 
whole route, Capt. Wheaton had to furnish the necessary rations, say 
from about the 7th of December, IS 12, the period at which the convoy 
reached Canton, Ohio, to about the 2Cth of January following, when it 
arrived at Upper Sandusky. That, I continued with said convoy from 
Pittsburg to the wilderness ;u!\ anced of the frontier .set (lenient. 
when I left it in charge of Capt. Wheaton, in obedience to an 
oider from Gen. Harrison, requiring iny immediate presence 
at his head quarters, who conducted the same in good order to 
the point of its destination. That, Capt. Wheaton did at New 
Lisbon. Ohio, hire several additional wagons and sleds for 
the purpose of transporting to U. Sandusky quantities of hos- 
pital stores, entrenching tools, &,c. which had been dropped 
on the way by wagons that had preceded us in the inarch, on 
account of the almost impassable state of the roads. 

C. GRATIOT, Major of Eugr. 
QndComptrs. Office, l&th March. ;819.J 
ji correct copy from the original. j 
S. ANDERSON. 

APPENDIX NO. 8. 

Upper Sandusky, January 7th, 1813. 
Sir — I received your letter last night, and am very sorry to 
hear of your difficulties. The plan which you adopted of send- 
ing forward the light carriages for the purpose of breaking the 
road, I think an excellent one. It is entirely out of my power 
to send you any forage, you must, feed as sparingly as possible. 
General Lcftwich has detached forty men to assist you with 
four davs rations for the whole. 



10 

Captain Gratiot has written to you, and tlic plan he suggests 
I tli ink is also correct. Do the best you can. 

I know you will do all that can be done by any one man. 
With great respect, I am sir, 
your obedient servant, 

W. PIATT, Cipt. 
N. B. If insurmountable difficulties occur, write me by express. 
Captain Joseph Wheaton, 
Asst. Dep. Q. Mast. 
N. W, Army. 

appendix no. 9. 

Upper Sandusky. January IZth, 1813. 
Dear Sir — Your favour of the seventh inst. I have just re- 
ceived by Mr. Anderson, who will return immediately to your 
aid, with such number of horses as he may deem necessary to 
facilitate your movement to this place ; your difficulties have 
been considerable, your plans and arrangements have been ap- 
proved of, and I am sorry to inform you, it is not in my power 
to furnish you with any funds at present. I know you will do 
all you can, and nothing more can be requested. The hired 
teams which came on with Mr. Anderson, arrived at this place 
yesterday, they have received no pay from me. I will thank 
you to give them a certificate so as to enable them to receive 
when they arrive at Pittsburg, from government, what may 
be justly due to them, but if those teams have been employed 
by you, it will be you duty to pay them. 

With great respect, I am sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

W. PIATT, Capt. 
Dep. Q. M. Gen. 
Capt. Joseph Wheaton, 
Asst. D. Q. Mast. 
N. W. Army. 

APPENDIX NO. 10. 

Fort Fere, February lSih, 1813. 
Camp, Upper Sandusky. 
Received of Captain Joseph Wheaton, Asst. Deputy Quarter 
Master, North Western Army, six thousand four hundred 
bushels of corn and oats, as estimated by Stigny and Myers ; 
nine hundred and forty six bushels of corn and oats, as per 
cash vouchers ; twelve thousand two hundred and sixteen and 
an half bushels of corn and oats, as per receipts, and certifi- 
cates since the 3rd instant. 
[ Duplicate.] 

JOSEPH ALEXANDER, F. M. 



11 

ChiUieothe, 15th September, 1313. 
We. do hereby certify upon honor, that in all our interconre 
with Capt. Jos. Wheaton, Asst. I). Q. M. Cien. (and which 
lias been considerable) in preparing For the troops on the late 
expedition to Upper Sandusky, in supplying their necessaries 
and in forwarding their march, he has done every thing in the, 
most careful economical manner the nature of the service and 
Ms means would admit of, and that he was eminently useful 
to the troops on all occasions when called upon either by my- 
self or other officers of the division commanded 'by Governor 
Meigs and greatly to his satisfaction. 

JOHN" FURGISON. Col. 

Com'ng. 2 B.2 7i 2 B.O.M. 
JAMES MARNAHY. 
Gen. 3 Brig. 2 JJiv. 0. M. 

APPENDIX NO. 1 1. 

Washington, March 13/A, 1819. 
I certify, that about the 7th or 8th of May, 1313, Joseph 
Wheaton, acting as Assistant Quarter Master General, march- 
ed under my command With the Ohio militia for the relief of 
Fort Meigs — and that in a camp of several hundred horses, 
Mr Wheaton lost two horses, which broke from the camp in 
the night : this happened in the Indian country. Of the value 
of those horses 1 am ignorant. R. J. MEIGS, 

Late Gov't: Ohio. 

APPENDIX NO. 12. 

Chillicothe, 1st. Octoher. 1813. 
Dear Sir — Observing in the Scioto Gazette a notice calling 
on such persons as ha\e unsettled accounts with your office, 
and an intimation that you are about to visit the City of Wash- 
ington, we the undersigned, considering it a duty we owe our- 
selves, to make an expression, of our sense of the manner in 
which you have discharged your duties in the Quarter Master's 
Departmental this post, we are therefore of opinion that your 
attention to, and zeal for the public interest stands unrivalled, 
your care of the public property, the arrangement in the trans- 
portation of the public stores, and the. economy in all your 
measures, meets our entire approbation, and it being ascertain- 
ed to us, by our mercantile and other business, that were simi- 
lar measures adopted by public agents generally, the saving 
of many thousands would be the result, now lost for want of 
that intelligence industry and zeal for the public interest mani- 
fested through your department. Should it please Govern- 
ment to direct you again to this post, we shall meet you 
with a cordiality which will insure a welcome reception in 



12 

our society. Wishihgyou safe to your family anil friends, we 

are dear sir, with sentiments of great esteem, your obedient 

humble servants. 

DA VI!) KINKEAD, A. J. WILLIAMS, 

SAMUEL CROWN, SAMUEL TAGART, 

JAMES & WOOD, J. WADDLE, 

JOHN CARLISLE, J. WALKER. 

HENRY FULLERTON, W. R. SOUTHWARD, 

Majoti Joseph Wheatoic, 
C.'iillicothc. 

Washington, November 10th, 1814. 

Sir — Having had ample opportunities of noticing the official 
conduct of Joseph Wheaton, A. O. Q. M. while in Ohio, I con- 
sidered him an active, zealous, useful officer ; his care of the 
public arms and clothing, was superior to any other of the De- 
partment. He introduced economy In the transportation of the 
public stores, and saved a considerable sum to the United 
States : these circumstances I know from pergonal observation. 

Respectfully your obedient servant, R. J. MEIGS. 

APPENDIX NO. 13. 

A.ljutant General's Office, 
Richmond, 21st December, 1813. 
Sir — By the enclosed general order of the 18th inst. you 
will perceive whatportion of the militia of this state, have been 
called into the service of the United States, as well as the re- 
giments and counties from which they are drawn. The con- 
tractor of the United States army having made arrangements 
for supplying the rations on the march, from the regimental 
rendezvous to Norfolk, it is the wish of the Governor that 
you provide for the transportation, and such other objects as 
tall within the Quarter Master Generals department. 

These objects being provided for by the general government, 
will supersede much of the orders of the 18th inst. as relate to 
those subjects. 

By order of the governor, and commander in chief, 

WM. W. HENlNG, D. A. G. 
lor MOSES GREN, A. G. 
C.il'T. JOSEPH BHE.1T0X, 

M% D'ij. §'r. Mas. Gen. now at Richmond. 
N. U. It is thought proper here to state, that no provisions 
were furnished by the contractor of the U. States. 

APPENDIX NO. 14. 

In Council. February 17th, 1814. 
Whereas a requisition has been made on the Executive of 
this state bv the commanding general at Norfolk for nineteen 



13 

hundred and thirty fonr men to be in the service of the United 
States, ami in consequence thereof, orders ha\ r this day issued; 
requiring fifteen hundred men with officers to take the field 
for that service. 

It id therefore advised that the Assistant Deputy Quarter 
Master General of die United States at this place, be ordered 
to take the necessary steps to further their march by famishing 
the necessary supplies and transportation. 

Council Chamber, Richmond, August 18?/;, 1818. 

I certify tlr.it the foregoing advice, of Council is a true copy, 
takeu from the Journal of the proceedings of the Council of 
state. Given under my hand as clerk of the said Council, 
this date above written. 

\VM. ROBERTSON, C. C. 

Council Chamber, Richmond, August 18th, 1818. 

Sir-— Your favor of the 13th inst. came duly to hand, and in 
compliance with your request I have hereto annexed a copy 
of the advice of Council you have called for : there is a fee al- 
lowed bylaw of one dollar and sixty seven cents for every 
copy issued from this office for private use. I will thank you 
to remit it to me by some safe hand, or pay it to Mr. John 
Chew, who will give it to inc when he conies to this City. 

I am sir. very reepectfully, 
your humble servant, 

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, C. C. 

AITENDIX NO. 15. 

As it is difficult to furnish the volunteer rompanies in Penn- 
sylvania, (on their route to Niagara) with provisions, tents, 
camp equipage, transportation, or forage, it is proposed to 
make them a liberal allowance in money in lieu of the above 
supplies. The estimates I have made on this point, by direc- 
tion of the Secretary of War, are as follows, viz : 

For Infantry. 

To each captain, gl 85 per day ; and to each subal- 
tern, Si 45 per day ; in lieu of transportation and 
quarters only, of course the daily allowance to a 
Captain and 3 subalters, amounts to SG 2B 

To each soldier one ration at 15 "j 48 cents each for 
cents, camp equipage, 10 I a company of 50 

quarters, fuel, and straw, 15 J men, at 48 cents, 24 



Daily allowance to 4 officers and 50 men, $30 20 



14 

For Dragoons or Cavalry. 

To each Captain, fl 95 cents per day, and three 
subalterns, at Si 95 rents per day each, for for- 
age, quarters, fuel, and straw, of course the daily 
allowance to the 4 officers amounts to 8 00 

To each soldier one ration, at 1 5 } 75 cents per day 
cents, camp equipage. 10 y each for acompa- 

quarters, fuel, and straw, 15 } ny of 50 menat"5 
forage, 35 5 cents each day. 37 50 



Daily allowance to 4 officers and 50 men, 41 30 

From the above data, the sum allowed to each company may 
be easily estimated. The total amount must depend on the 
number of men, and number of days required to perform the 
march. The estimated distance from Pittsburg to Niagara is 
about 300 miles, say 15 miles per day for Infanty, and 20 
miles per day for Dragoons or Cavalry. 

MOSES STODDARD, 
Muj. cj* Depy. Quarter Master. 
August 15th. 1813. 
Maj. Joseph Wheaton, 
Jlsst. D. q. Master. 

APPENDIX NO. 16. 

Extract of a letter from John I. fFard, asst. Physieian to the 
hospital in Richmond, dated Fehruarij 6th, 1815, to Major 
Joseph fV/ieaton, Deputy Quarter Master General. 
Dear Sir — If arduous services for upwards of thirty years, 
with the unremitting zeal you have invariably evinced for the 
public welfare, in all the stations you have so ably filled, and 
particularly so at this important post, ran have any effect, I 
must yet cherish the hope, it will be ultimately crowned with 
success; and here permit me to observe, that but for your time- 
ly exertions, hundreds of our worthy soldiers would have fal- 
len victims to disease, produced by the unhealthiness of the 
climate, fatigue, hardships, and privations incident to a sol- 
dier's life — to your fostering care in turning your attention to 
the sick and wounded, an hospital for them has been instituted 
at this post, and has been the means (under providence) of res- 
cuing them from an untimely grave. In confirmation of this, 
the first quarterly return from the hospital department will 
afford ample proof. Four hundred and fifteen sick were ad- 
mitted from Camp Holly and Carter, and many from Norfolk, 
many of them came in, labouring under typhus fever in its 
form, out of the number already mentioned but ten deaths oc- 
curred, and five or six of them were in the last agonies when 



15 

brought, and expired in a few hours; since tho last quarterly 
v i ci, t lie number admitted has been between tour and live 
hundred) and not more than thirty deaths ; many of them when 
they came were in a condition that bade defiance to all human 
art to relieve them; of eight hundred sick that have been in 
this institution the mortality you find has been comparative- 
ly small, and would have been less, but for those reasons just 
stated. Those now in hospital are all likely to do well. 

To your unwearied and benevolent exertions in behalf of the 
unfortunate soldier, may in a great measure be attributed the 
restoration of hundreds of valuable lives, restored to their coun- 
try and friends, who again when called on will, with alacrity 
and ardor, step forward in defence of their country's rights, 
strongly impressed with a deep sense of gratitude for the hu- 
mane attention extended to them by our invaluable government, 
in appointing an officer whose unceasing efforts; amidst the 
multifarious duties attendant, upon his situation, never for a 
moment lost sight of the afflicted soldier, in contributing all 
that was in his power to mitigate Their sufferings. Your dis- 
cernment in requesting Dr. Win. P. Jones to take charge of 
the first duties of the hospital, proves incontestibly how much 
you had their welfare at heart, for most ably has that gentle- 
man seconded your philanthropic exertions. You must expe- 
rience great satisfaction from his unremitting attention, skill, 
and humanity in behalf of those who have been fortunately 
placed under his care. 

I have been often apprehensive your solicitude for the sick 
by sleeping in the hospital, your frequent visits by day, might 
(had the system at some unfortunate period laboured under 
circumstances favoring contagion) have proved fatal — your 
constant attention to the various duties of your department, 
must convince every impartial mind, that but one motive ac- 
tuated your conduct, the. good of your country. I have at all 
times found you (and often when you was much fatigued and 
harrassed) always accessible, affable, polite and attentive to 
any requests I had to make, whether of a public or private na- 
ture, and to this every officer in the department would cheer- 
fully subscribe to. 

I have been compelled to say this much, as well from a 
sense of candour as also to what is due to an officer whose 
rigid adherence to his duties will ultimately bo duly appreci- 
ated. 

But sir, if a conscientious and faithful discharge of a highly 
responsible and laborious situation with a constant desire, 
paramount to every selfish consideration, to exert every facul- 
ty for the benefit of your country, can bestow a reward to a 



16 

feeling mind, the boon is greater than any yon can enjoy on 
this side the grave, and that yon may very long experience 
the sweets resulting therefrom is the sincere wish of, 
Dear sir, 

With great consideration and respect, 
Yours, 

JOHN I. WARD. 

APPENDIX NO. 17. 

Department of War, 5th October. 1815. 
Sir — You will deliver over to Mr. Giles B. Cook acting in 
the Quarter Master's Department ail the public property, 
books, papers, &c. belonging to the Quarter Master's Depart- 
ment, together with a statement of the public property, of every 
description, which may have been sold by you — you will also 
furnish Mr. Coek with an explanatory statement of all the 
claims upon the Quarter Master's Department. 
1 have the honor to be, sir, 
(Signed) 

GEORGE GHAIIAM, Chief Clerk. 
Major Joseph Wheaton, 

Richmond. 
This is to certify that the above is a true copy from the re- 
cords of the W ar Department. 

GIDEON DAVIS, Clerk. 
2nd. April, 1819. 

APPENDIX NO. 18. 

Richmond, March , 1 SI 5. 
Sir — Peace being restored to our beloved country, after a 
war, which has covered her with glory, and elevated her, to an 
enviable rank, among the nations of the earth, as well for her 
devotion to justice, as her valor in arms, the relations between 
us will shortly cease to exist. We who have been attached to 
the Quarter Master General's Department, at this place, over 
which you have presided, cannot separate from you without 
expressing our respect for you. as a diligent, active and faith- 
ful public officer, and our friendship and esteem for you as a 
citizen. Your acts have passed in review, before us, and un- 
dergone our immediate inspection. Always at \ our post, you 
have been prompt and ready to discharge the various and com- 
plicated duties of your office, which became more onorous and 
burthensomc from the difficulty of discriminating on the part of 
those, with whom you had to transact business, bel ween Your 
own province and that of the State-authorities. In addition 
too, to the ordinary duties of your office, those of the ordnance 
department devolved upon you, which kept your whole time 



employed in public concerns. We have observed, Sir, \ 
real pleasure, your attention to tlie sick soldier, and the u 
viating economy with which you have managed the p 
funds. Several of us were with you, and witnessed in 
North Western army your ardent zeal and patriotic exei 
in the public service. Be assured Sir, wherever youri 
nil s may call you, of our respect, and our most fervent v. 
I'm' your prosperity. 
JUS. J. MONROE. GEO. P. DIGGS'. 

CHA'S. DOWNING. 1 HO'S BUTLKR. 

SIMON FRAYS(ER. JOHN H SMITH 

STEPHEN BRANCH RiliJ'l). U. BRAN I' 

JOHN C. UNDERWOOD. S. CARY. 

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21 

UMTF.D STATES Dr. 

JOSEPH WHKVTON, 
For liis services as Physician, Sttperiutendant, and Manager) 
of the Hospital and Medieal establis meutat Richmond Va. > $ 7000 
From lsl January 1814, to 19th ^Nuv. Ibl7, at $ lb<HJ per. an. > 

I hereby certify on the word and honor oi n gentleman, that I faithfully per- 
formed the above slated service, and for which 1 have received no pav. 

JObWli YU1EATON. 






Quikcy. October 7th, 1818. 

Sir: I have not sooner answered your lelter of the 11th July, because (realty 
knew not wha to say to it. 

You and I have grievances ; but 1 have no better advice to give you or myself, 
than my friend Otis gave to Molineux. 

The history of your life written by yourself, would be as curious, and for what T 
know, as instructive as any life that hay been written. 

1 belli vc you have ju*t claims upon your country and her government, but I can- 
no* interfere. 

I hare always believed you to be an honest man. 

You may show this letter to the Secretary of State, and pray him to give a 
candid hearing ; but I am not sufficiently informed to give any advice to him or to 
you. I am with long; continued esteem, 

vour sincere well wisher, Stc. 

Joseph Wheaton Esq. JOHN ADAMS. 

Momtpemer, July 5th 1S20. 

I have received your letter of the 1st. inst. Your wish ihat your descendants should 
possess a just and favorable view of their ancestor is natural and commendable. — 
There are others whose knowledge of your character and public services being 
more special, may enable them to do more justice to your object, than I can do. — 
What I can say with truth and with pleasure is, that in originally favoring your 
appointment to the place you held under the House of Representatives, 1 was gov- 
erned by satisfactory evidence ot the sacrifices, both of interest and the ties of blood 
which you made to die cause of your country, and of your gallantry in fighting its 
revolutionary battles. I can add, (hat in your conduit during the late war, many 
instances fell within mv information, ot a zealous activity in promoting its opera- 
tions, very creditable to you both as a citizen and a soldier. 

I tender you Sir, mv respects, &c. 

Major ./. Wheaton. JAMES MADISON. 



Washington, December 10th 1812. 
Sir : fn reply to your letter received last evening, I have- the pleasure to inform 



j»u, ilia! Mr. Wheaton 's character as an officer in the revolutionary array, is well 
recollected by me. 

He belonged to Col; Olney's regiment, from Rhode Island, than which, no corps 
was more distinguished. 

Mv legion was < onnected with it in -lefonce of two bridges, at the battle of 
Springfield in iSiew Jersey, and i was a witness tu the zeal and courage exhibited by 
the regiment on tiiat occasion} which was nrver exceeded during the war. 

Mr. Wheaton (then 1 believe, a lieutenant) was tu the leading section and was 
conspicuous throughout the action tor his exemplary gallantry, a distinction w hich 
he susrained to the end ol tiie war. 

Your most ob't serv't. 

John Eurht Esq. H. LEE. 

Sin : New York, December 3d. 1812. 

t hare received a letter from you dated at Washington, Nov. 28th lhl'2 ; in 
which you make enquiry respecting the revolutionary service of Mr. Joseph Whea- 
ton: Mr. Joseph Wheaton was a lieutenant in Col. Olney's regiment of Rhode 
Island troops, and was reputed a good officer — He was on an expedition under my 
command in the winter of the year 17s:* : from his activity, zeal, ami spirit on that 
occasion, he merited and received the particular approbation of 
Sir, your humble servant, 

Mr. John Burke. MARINUS WILLET. 



We the subscribers, [Petersburg Va. v.uuinecrs] do hereby certify upou honor, 
that we were pel sunally uu duty with Joseph Wheaton Esq. D. Q. M. tien. at i ort 
Ferree, Upper Sandusky, and Lower Sandusky, and a considerable time at Fort 
Meigs, either collectively or individually ; and we do therefore assert and declare, 
that the conduct of" tue said Wheaton was zealous, industrious, and watchful in 
every part of his duty wherever he came within our observation. In fortifying Fort 
Meigs, in the transportation of the munitions of war, and the public stores, or in 
volunteering his personal service, or reconnoitering the enemy : that we never mra- 
gined him to shrink from any duty, or public service, and often witnessed his suf 
foxing but with exemplary patience, cheerfulness and fortitude. 

RICH'D.M'RAE, ' BENJ'N M1DDLETON, 

SHERLEY TISDALE, JUS. SCOTT, 

R. B. COOK, JOSEPH C NOBLES, 

H. CLOFTIN, ! N. B. SPOTTSWOOD, 

JOHN SPRATT, GEORGE GRUNDY, 

GEO. P. DIGGES, THOMAS CLARKE, 

JOHN RAWLINGS, E RAWLINGS, 

JOHN. H. SMITH RICHARD BRANCH, 

THOMAS W. PERRY, EDWARD BRANCH Jr 

JAMES CABINESS, D. HOOKER, 

GEO, RICHARDS, ROBERT BLEKE, 

JAMES. R. FARRAR, JAMES PATTERSON, 

JOHN SANDERS, ' THOMAS G. SCOTT, 

RICHARD BOOKER, THOMAS SCOTT. 



House ut Representatives, Jan 21st, 1819. 



House u» Representatives, Jan 21st, 1819 
Dear Sir: I received the papei you weie so polite as to enclose to me — I read 
the communication that took place between your brother and your friend, audi can 
draw from it strong inferences in your favor — Strong testimony most evidently ap- 
pears from your brother's statement— that you entered the army in defence of your 
country's rights from the purest principles, and motives of patriotism, and the zeal 
and ability which marked our character. As a valuable officer in the revolution- 
ary war, I was frequently awitness. being a brother officer with you in this contest: 
In i he late war, you are equally entitled to the thanks and gratitude of your coun- 
try for your perseverance, ability, and arduous duty, which -on, after great fatigue 
and hardships completed. I have no hesitation in aying, as I well know much of 
''our E'en ices, that you deserve much more from your country than vou have rcceiv- 



2S 

ed ; and f greatly regret to sop you are not in a better and higher situation ; for 
certninly your country ewes you muuhyand sbeali do justice to your services. 
Yuurs sincerely nod atVectionately, 
Major. IVktaton. \Y. ANDERSON. 

House of Representatives t ; . S. Apr. lfith, 1814 
Sir : 

The faithful and meritorfous services of Captain Joseph Wh eaten, Assist, p. Q. 
31. General, in the opinion of the undersigned, entitle hini to n compensation mure 
adequate to the maintenance of himseh and family ; and we would there fori re- 
commend him for promotion in thai department, or some command in the line of 
the army : for which hie revolution arj services have well qualified him to act 

Respectfully kc. BOl fNGHALL 

To the President of the U. States. LEW IS CONDUIT. 

Chii.eicqthe, Oct. 6th. 1813. 
Sir: 

1 did not hear of your exit from Chillicnthe until the third or fourth day after it 
too!x place. I had looked for . i ur valediction) and fi It sui priced and mortifii d at 
the disappointment ; but asyour busines required haste, 1 consoled myself with 
the persuasion that your time would not permit you tu call upon all your acquaint- 
ances. From my knowledge ol youi strict attention to tlie business you were en- 
gaged in, and from information of the services you rendered the United States. — 
Government, I fear, nillh come tlie laser in your departure. Ol myself, I Unnw 
the public stores were not, antecedent t<> youi appointing nt, so cart fully attended. 
The arms, accoutiemei ts, c Loathing, field and camp equipage, were never so well 
arranged and preserved from injury as under your super intendance. I do not 
know who your successor mav be; I hope? however, hi may pursue the plan you 
adopted, Doctor Delan« informs me lie i- to meet ou in Pitisburg , I have there- 
fore seized the opportunity . by him, oi bidding you farewell — of wishing you a 
happy meeting with your family 

I remain dear sir, 

Very respectfully:, 
Yours &c. 

Captain H'hcaton. SAMUEL FINLT. 



Sir; Chimicothe, Sept 6th, 1813. 

The Commander in Chief having ordered me to join the army, my official dutie 
at this place will be at an end in a day or two. Permit me before I leave you, to 
express my entire approbation of the manner you have discharged the duties ol the 
Quarter Master's department at this place, as far as they came within my knowledge 
and observation ; you having commenced at this place nearly about the same time 
with myself, and our official intercourse being considerable, I of course have had 
an opportunity of noticing mo.-t uf your acts. 

The manner in which you have taken care of the public property, to wit : cloath- 
ing", arms, tec. eannar be surpassed. The confused manner in w v dch the cloa thing 
came on, imposed a heavy duty upon you in repacking and invoicing anew every 
tierce almost that was sent on here. It' the government's agents in other places 
performed their duty with as much fidelity us \ ou have j runs, as far as I have ob- 
served, the packages, tierces, &c. of cloathing would at least correspond with the 
iuvoices, to say no more about it. 

Accept assurances of my sincere regard, respect, and esteem. 

n . - „,, , ( JOHN B. CAMPBELL, 

Captain Wheaton. \ r> i a □ i ■ . 

r £ Cot. >up. Rec. District. 



Rk HifOifD] Aug. 22d. 1815. 
Mv Dear Sir: 

Upwards of 12 months have elapsed sinre yon found me a volunteer in the ser-. 
vice of my country, then engaged m prosecuting a just way against a formidable 



\ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 837 147 1 

aad imperious enemy. Toti heard of the zeal I had displayed in thus repair'm* 
in the humble capacity ot' a soldier lo the standard .it my country, from mv esti- 
mable friend Col. Yancey, and forthwith promoted me to a grade in the staff of the 
army, which not only sup died me with the unexpei «ed means of comfort, but af- 
forded ina superior degree, an opportunity of attaining the object I had in view in 
doming into the field; which was to acquire a knowledge in military affairs— to 
pu* are myself to become more extensively useful ,n the event of a prolonged and 
sanguinary conflict. Shis act of disinterested friendship inspired rie with senti- 
ment*, of the warmest gratitude, and most unfeigned attachment; feelings which 
became more vivid and solemnly impressive, when 1 found myself in your office, 
associated with a small band of choice spirits, several of whom had alreadv dis- 
tinguished themselves in the battles of their country, by nobly and copiously ghed.- 
di. g their blood in defence of her dearest and most sacred rights. By ordering me 
to the city of Washington, ;«iter its capture by the enemy, then ihe post ol danger, 
aud to the town of Tappahnnnock, in which 1 had formerly resided, thereby ena- 
bling me to aid in defending the living, and in protecting from profanation the hal- 
lowed ashes of the dead, which were dear to me : you delicately conferred favors, 
the pleasing recollection of which, \v : . . only be torn from me by the blow which 
severs me from life. These offices oi -our part are the more dear to me, as they 
furnish a presumption that my humble •fiorts to discharge my duties to the public 
and yourself, have not been altogether unsuccessful. 

When I review vour ardent zeal lor the public interest at this station — the unwea- 
ried exertions manifested both day and night, in the discharge o! the various and 
complicated duties assigned you — when 1 see you laboring to supph 'he defects of 
an exhausted exchequer by personal responsibility — when I contemplate your ritrid 
economy in the administration of the public money — but above all, when I behold 
your present destitute situation, and your equanimity under it, " i am tortured even 
to madness " at the malice of your enemies. How malevolent must that heart 
be — how dead to all ihe sweet charities of humanity, which would wish to tear from 
the old soldier Ihe onlv property lie has left — a good name, acquired in two sue- ps- 
Sive wars j the one which founded the temple of American liberty — the other winch 
protected it from pollution. Banished forever from the walks of civilized man. a- 
way to the pathless departs be such monster-, who more ie.ocious than cannibals, 
would fea>t themselves upon the mangled reputation of the hoary patriot, crouch- 
ing under the weight of sixty winter's snows ! 

In bidding you, my de ,r friend, an affectionate, and perhaps, a final farewell, 
I entreat you to believe that while I breathe, I shall never cease to feel a deep i. ■■ r- 
est in the future events of your life, and that if fortune should ever smileon me, one 
»alf Ihe benificence of that smile, shall be imparted to you. 
1 am most respectfully affectionately, 
Your sincere friend, 

Major Joseph Wheaion, > J.J.MONROE. 

Dtjputy Quarter Master General. $ 



ERRATA. — In the Prst pntre, fifth line from the top, for " 1817," rend lfilP. 
Face 4 — Fifth line from the bottom, lor " IO " to Majoi ' atiot, read one. 
Pape li) — ltf lines from ihe top, for " half a bushel " rea I tuo and a ha!/. 
P ; 15— 2nd Paragraph, lor "2000" read 2 < ' 

Pag ■ Jii. — 2d. line from the top, for " Deputy Qunrter Master" read Assis. Dep. Q. 
Ma st«r. 



